Eating disorder risk and factors associated with obesity prejudice among university students: a cross-sectional descriptive study

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate eating disorder risk and factors associated with obesity prejudice among university students. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was consisted of 1,449 university students in Turkey. Anthropometric measurements were self-reported and eating disorder and obesity prejudice symptoms were measured via validated scales. Results: Prevalence of students at low risk for eating disorder was 88.2%, while 60.3% of them were prone to obesity prejudice and 27% of them were obesity prejudiced. The mean eating disorder scores of the underweight and the normal weight group were significantly lower than the overweight group (p=0.003 and p=0.019, respectively). The difference between the mean obesity prejudice scores of the normal weight group and the overweight group was found to be significant (p=0.002). Moreover, in the multiple linear regression analysis, the overweight group had a significant association with obesity prejudice (p<0.001). Conclusions: The risk of eating disorder and obesity prejudice increases among overweight/obese university students. Early prediction of eating disorder and obesity prejudice is crucial to prevent health problems such as obesity and related diseases among university students.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Erzurum-Alim,Nural, Yuksel,Aysun, Tevfikoglu-Pehlivan,Leyla, Karakaya,Rahime Evra, Besler,Zehra Nur
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Academia Española de Nutrición y Dietética 2022
Online Access:http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2174-51452022000200003
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Summary:Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate eating disorder risk and factors associated with obesity prejudice among university students. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was consisted of 1,449 university students in Turkey. Anthropometric measurements were self-reported and eating disorder and obesity prejudice symptoms were measured via validated scales. Results: Prevalence of students at low risk for eating disorder was 88.2%, while 60.3% of them were prone to obesity prejudice and 27% of them were obesity prejudiced. The mean eating disorder scores of the underweight and the normal weight group were significantly lower than the overweight group (p=0.003 and p=0.019, respectively). The difference between the mean obesity prejudice scores of the normal weight group and the overweight group was found to be significant (p=0.002). Moreover, in the multiple linear regression analysis, the overweight group had a significant association with obesity prejudice (p<0.001). Conclusions: The risk of eating disorder and obesity prejudice increases among overweight/obese university students. Early prediction of eating disorder and obesity prejudice is crucial to prevent health problems such as obesity and related diseases among university students.