Olga Castelao-Naval1, Ascensión Blanco-Fernández2, Carmen Marina Meseguer-Barros3, Israel J Thuissard-Vasallo4, Begoña Cerdá5, Mar Larrosa4. 1. Departamento de Farmacia, Biotecnología y Nutrición, Facultad de Biomédicas y Salud, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: mariaolga.castelao@universidadeuropea.es. 2. Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Biomédicas y Salud, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, España. 3. Subdirección General de Farmacia y Productos Sanitarios, Consejería de Sanidad, Comunidad de Madrid, Madrid, España. 4. Escuela de Doctorado e Investigación, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, España. 5. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Guadalupe, Murcia, España.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this paper were to determine weight status, eating, and alcohol drinking and smoking habits of university students, to determine the association between these variables with negative self-perception of their eating habits and to assess the risk of developing eating disorders. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 422 university students. The parameters analyzed were: nutritional status, eating habits, alcohol/ tobacco consumption, and risk of eating disorder. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with a negative perception of eating habits. RESULTS: Out of the whole population that was analyzed, 5% were underweight, 16% overweight and 4% obese. Fifty-five percent of the sample analyzed did not consume five meals a day. The recommended foods for daily consumption were consumed below recommendations, while sausages/fatty meats, industrial pastries, lean meats, and fish were over-consumed. Overall, the population perceived their eating habits as good/very good (63%). Alcohol and tobacco consumption predominated at weekends. The girls were more image-conscious (80.6% vs. 66%) and fearful of gaining weight (52.5% vs. 23.9%). Almost 30% had a distorted perception of body image. There was a 12.8% risk of atypical anorexia nervosa and 4.7% of atypical bulimia nervosa. CONCLUSIONS: College students led unhealthy lifestyles, mainly due to eating habits that do not conform to the establish recommendations. More than 17% are at risk of developing an atypical eating disorder. This information may be of interest in developing preventive actions.
OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this paper were to determine weight status, eating, and alcohol drinking and smoking habits of university students, to determine the association between these variables with negative self-perception of their eating habits and to assess the risk of developing eating disorders. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 422 university students. The parameters analyzed were: nutritional status, eating habits, alcohol/ tobacco consumption, and risk of eating disorder. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with a negative perception of eating habits. RESULTS: Out of the whole population that was analyzed, 5% were underweight, 16% overweight and 4% obese. Fifty-five percent of the sample analyzed did not consume five meals a day. The recommended foods for daily consumption were consumed below recommendations, while sausages/fatty meats, industrial pastries, lean meats, and fish were over-consumed. Overall, the population perceived their eating habits as good/very good (63%). Alcohol and tobacco consumption predominated at weekends. The girls were more image-conscious (80.6% vs. 66%) and fearful of gaining weight (52.5% vs. 23.9%). Almost 30% had a distorted perception of body image. There was a 12.8% risk of atypical anorexia nervosa and 4.7% of atypical bulimia nervosa. CONCLUSIONS: College students led unhealthy lifestyles, mainly due to eating habits that do not conform to the establish recommendations. More than 17% are at risk of developing an atypical eating disorder. This information may be of interest in developing preventive actions.
Authors: Maria Ferrara; Elisa Langiano; Lavinia Falese; Pierluigi Diotaiuti; Cristina Cortis; Elisabetta De Vito Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-03 Impact factor: 4.614