scholarly journals Disordered eating attitudes correlate with body dissatisfaction among Kuwaiti male college students

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariam Ebrahim ◽  
Dalal Alkazemi ◽  
Tasleem A. Zafar ◽  
Stan Kubow

Abstract Background The prevalence of disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction based on muscularity and body fat was investigated among male college students in Kuwait with a range of body mass index values including underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese participants. Methods Data were collected, using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Bodybuilder Image Grid (BIG), from 400 male undergraduate students (84.8% Kuwaiti nationals) recruited from both public and private universities in Kuwait. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of symptomatology indicative of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and to examine the associations between body dissatisfaction and muscularity and body fat. Results Most participants were dissatisfied with their current muscle mass and body fat (67.3 and 69%, respectively). Logistic regression analyses produced odds ratios (ORs) demonstrating that students dissatisfied with their muscularity and body fat and those who indicated a desire to decrease both muscularity and body fat had significantly higher odds of being at risk of disordered eating attitudes (OR = 2.241, 95% CI [1.17, 3.6], p = .032, and OR = 1.898, 95% CI [1.214, 2.967], p = .005, respectively). Obese participants also had higher odds of exhibiting disordered eating attitudes (OR = 2.06, 95% CI [1.17, 3.60], p = .011). Conclusion The high proportion of disordered eating attitudes among Kuwaiti college men was associated with high levels of body image dissatisfaction in relation to both body fat and muscularity. High levels of eating disorder symptoms were also linked to obesity.

Author(s):  
Aparicio-Martinez ◽  
Perea-Moreno ◽  
Martinez-Jimenez ◽  
Redel-Macías ◽  
Pagliari ◽  
...  

Disordered eating attitudes are rapidly increasing, especially among young women in their twenties. These disordered behaviours result from the interaction of several factors, including beauty ideals. A significant factor is social media, by which the unrealistic beauty ideals are popularized and may lead to these behaviours. The objectives of this study were, first, to determine the relationship between disordered eating behaviours among female university students and sociocultural factors, such as the use of social network sites, beauty ideals, body satisfaction, body image and the body image desired to achieve and, second, to determine whether there is a sensitive relationship between disordered eating attitudes, addiction to social networks, and testosterone levels as a biological factor. The data (N = 168) was obtained using validated surveys (EAT-26, BSQ, CIPE-a, SNSA) and indirect measures of prenatal testosterone. The data was analysed using chi-square, Student’s t-test, correlation tests and logistic regression tests. The results showed that disordered eating attitudes were linked to self-esteem (p < 0.001), body image (p < 0.001), body desired to achieve (p < 0.001), the use of social media (p < 0.001) and prenatal testosterone (p < 0.01). The findings presented in this study suggest a relationship between body image, body concerns, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating attitudes among college women.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0254948
Author(s):  
Souheil Hallit ◽  
Anna Brytek-Matera ◽  
Sahar Obeid

Background Previous research demonstrated a relationship between ON and disordered eating symptoms (eating concern, restraint, cognitive preoccupations about body shape and weight) and disordered eating attitudes (DEA). Since screening for orthorexia nervosa is now part of clinical practice, the measurement instruments to be used must be clinically significant, reliable, valid and sensitive to our target population. The main objective of the present study was to confirm the factor structure of the Arabic version of the ORTO-R using a first sample of Lebanese adults and confirm those results on another sample. The secondary objective was to assess sex differences in terms of ON and DEA, as well as to examine whether symptoms of ON were related to DEA in Lebanese adults. Methods A total of 783 Lebanese adults was selected to participate in this cross-sectional study (January-May 2018) using a proportionate random sample from all Lebanese governorates. Results The mean age of the total sample was 27.78 ± 11.60 years (Min. 18 –Max. 84) (33.5% females) and their mean BMI was 24.36 ± 5.31 kg/m2. All items of the ORTO-R were extracted during the factor analysis and yielded a two-factor solution with Eigenvalues > 1 (variance explained  =  50.07%; KMO = 0.570; Bartlett’s sphericity test p<0.001; αCronbach = 0.755). This factor structure was confirmed by a confirmatory factor analysis; the Maximum Likelihood Chi-Square  =  26.894 and Degrees of Freedom  =  8, which gave a χ2/df  =  3.36. The Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) value was 0.914, whereas the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) value was 0.032. The root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) value was 0.077 [95% CI 0.046–0.111] (pclose = 0.07) and comparative fit index (CFI) value was 0.967 respectively, indicating a good fit of the model. There was also no measurement invariance between genders. Female gender was significantly associated with lower ORTO-R scores (more orthorexia nervosa) compared to males (B = -0.65; p = 0.026, 95% CI -1.22- -0.08; ɳ2 = 0.006). However, no significant difference was found between genders in terms of EAT-26 scores (B = 0.23; p = 0.813, 95% CI -1.66–2.12; ɳ2 = 0.0001). Higher ORTO-R scores (lower/ less pathological ON tendencies and behaviors) were significantly related to higher EAT-26 total scores (higher levels of DEA) as well as higher dieting, bulimia and oral control scores in both females (from a weak to a moderate positive correlation) and males (a weak positive correlation). Conclusion This cross-sectional population-based study confirmed the factor structure of the Arabic version of the ORTO-R, demonstrated an association between ON and DEA and revealed more ON among females compared to males.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haleama Al Sabbah ◽  
Shatha Muhsineh

Background: Growing evidence is showing high levels of physical inactivity and disordered eating attitudes among young females in the United Arab Emirates. This is clearly concerning, but little is known about the activity level of those with disordered eating attitudes and their dieting behavior. This study examines the female Emirati college students’ disordered eating attitudes and its relation to exercise behavior.Method: A cross- sectional study using a validated and reliable questionnaire was conducted on 242 Emirati female students attending a public university in Dubai. Eating Attitudes Test- 26 (EAT26) was used to measure eating attitudes and the short International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was included to measure physical activity level. A systematic random sampling from a list of classes in the fall 2014 semester was used for recruitment. The university’s Research Ethics Committee approved the study and consents were obtained from participants. SPSS v.21 was used for data analysis. Chi-square test was used to compare frequencies. Significance level was set at 0.05.Results: The participants’ mean age and standard deviation (Mean± SD) was 19 ±1.3 years. 31.4% of the participants showed disordered eating attitudes. The percentage of participants engaged in at least one concerning behavior in the past six months was 43.8%. A membership in a health club was significantly related to disordered eating attitudes (p <0.01). A high level of physical activity was correlated with laxative use, over the counter supplements, and exercising for more than 60 minutes to control weight (p<0.05). Conclusion: There is a great need for intervention programs and policies to contain the level of abnormal eating attitudes and promote healthy level of physical activity among college students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilou Côté ◽  
Maxime Legendre ◽  
Annie Aimé ◽  
Marie-Christine Brault ◽  
Jacinthe Dion ◽  
...  

Background Being the target of peer victimization is frequent among children categorized as overweight and obese and is thought to play a central role in disordered eating behavior development. In accordance with a previous theoretical model, this cross-sectional study aimed to replicate among children the mediating role of weight-related victimization from peers and body dissatisfaction in the association between body mass index (BMI) and children’s disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (CDEAB), while also taking into account the contribution of parents’ disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (PDEAB). Methods Participants were 874 children aged between 8 and 12 years old who were recruited in elementary schools. Height and weight were measured and used to calculate BMI. Self-reported questionnaires were used to measure weight-related victimization, body dissatisfaction, CDEAB and PDEAB. Results For both girls and boys, a path analysis showed no direct effect of BMI on CDEAB, but a significant indirect effect was found, indicating that weight-related victimization and body dissatisfaction mediated this relationship. In addition, the indirect effect of weight-related victimization and body dissatisfaction remained significant even when controlling for PDEAB. Conclusion While weight itself appears to be insufficient to explain CDEAB, weight-related victimization may lead children to see their weight as problematic and develop disordered attitudes and behaviors toward eating. This suggests that weight-related victimization from peers and body dissatisfaction must be taken seriously and that preventive and intervention efforts must be pursued.


1981 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishanbindu Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Haripada Chattopadhyay

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 460-460
Author(s):  
Rianna Uddin ◽  
Lukkamol Prapkree ◽  
Jafar Ali Ajaj Jaafar ◽  
Cristina Palacios

Abstract Objectives An unhealthy snack pattern may impact a person's overall health and quality of life. College students are at risk for disordered eating attitudes (DEA) due the elevated mental and physical demands of higher education. This could lead to a greater snack intake that could replace meals. DEA could also be influenced by demographics. Our objective was to evaluate the association between DEA, snack patterns, stress level, and demographics. Methods We analyzed the baseline data from the Snackability Trial, a trial among overweight and obese students from US colleges to test the effects of using the Snackability app to choose healthier snacks compared to controls (no access to the app). Students are being recruited using flyers sent via email by college professors/staff and social media since June 2020. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (before randomization) on demographics (age, gender, race, ethnicity, income), snack eating patterns, stress level (scale from 1–10 with 10 being the most stressed), and DEA Score (a validated score assessing eating attitudes with 25 questions related to perceptions of food; higher DEA scores indicate higher DEA with the minimum possible score of 37 and maximum of 190). Descriptive statistics included frequency and mean/standard deviation of all variables. ANOVA and Pearson Correlations were used to evaluate the associations between variables. Results A total of 135 have completed thus far all baseline questionnaires. The average age was 21.5 ± 2.01 years, most students were female (83.7%), Hispanic/Latino (52.6%), and with a household income of &lt;$50,000 (60.0%). Average DEAS was 90.4 ± 19.1, daily snack intake was 2.33 ± 1.08, and stress score was 6.78 ± 1.97. DEAS score was not associated with demographic variables or snack intake, but there was a significant correlation between DEAS and stress level (r = 0.3; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions Students who have a higher level of stress are more likely to have DEA. Disordered eating is an umbrella of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder. Based on these findings, universities may need to develop interventions for college students to manage stress as well as promoting awareness and programs for students with high levels of disordered eating. Funding Sources Internal funds from Florida International University.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
H. Shriver ◽  
Gena Wollenberg ◽  
Gail E. Gates

The number of females participating in college sports in the U.S. has increased in last two decades. While female college athletes might be at a high risk, research examining disordered eating in this population is limited and difficult to summarize due to differences in methodologies. Factors contributing to disordered eating in female college athletes are not well established, but emotional regulation may be a potential correlate. The main purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of disordered eating and explore potential differences between weight-sensitive and less weight-sensitive sports in a sample of female college athletes. The second purpose was to examine emotional regulation, body dissatisfaction, sport type, a family history of eating disorder, and BMI as potential predictors of disordered eating. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 and the Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey were used to estimate disordered eating prevalence in a sample of 151 athletes. Emotion regulation was assessed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. The prevalence of disordered eating was 6.6% and 10.6%, respectively, with no differences by sport type. The multiple regression model explained 11% of the EAT-26 variance, F(5, 150) = 3.74, p < .01. Greater emotional regulation difficulties (β = .174, t = 2.191, p = .03) and body dissatisfaction (β = .276, t = 2.878, p = .005) were significant predictors of disordered eating. Further examination of emotional regulation and body dissatisfaction in relation to disordered eating in female college athletes is warranted.


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