Md Hasan Al Banna1, Keith Brazendale2, Md Shafiqul Islam Khan1, Abu Sayeed3, M Tasdik Hasan4, Satyajit Kundu5. 1. Department of Food Microbiology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh. 2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, United States. 3. Department of Post-Harvest Technology and Marketing, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh. 4. Department of Primary Care & Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. 5. School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: satyajitnfs@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the relation between weight status and eating disorders symptomatology among Bangladeshi university students. Moreover, the sociocultural climate in Bangladesh has changed in ways that might increase young adults' vulnerability to eating disorder symptomatology. Therefore, this study explored disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among Bangladeshi university students, and their association with Body Mass Index. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 398 students from one Bangladeshi university [mean age = 21.12 and 50.25% women]. Anthropometric measures (height and weight) were collected in-person by study staff. Participants also completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). The established EAT-26 cutoff score of ≥20 was used to identify participants as having elevated risk for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Participants' BMIs were classified according to World Health Organization guidelines. RESULT: Over one-fifth (20.4%) of students in the sample had EAT-26 scores ≥20 (17.2% male and 23.5% female). Students with BMIs classified as overweight or obese were more likely to have elevated EAT-26 scores (OR = 3.572[2.12-6.03], p < .001). A significant positive correlation was found between overweight/obesity, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (r = 0.41, p < .001). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that additional research is needed to investigate eating disorder symptomatology in Bangladeshis. In particular, future studies should use longitudinal designs, and large and diverse samples.
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the relation between weight status and eating disorders symptomatology among Bangladeshi university students. Moreover, the sociocultural climate in Bangladesh has changed in ways that might increase young adults' vulnerability to eating disorder symptomatology. Therefore, this study explored disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among Bangladeshi university students, and their association with Body Mass Index. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 398 students from one Bangladeshi university [mean age = 21.12 and 50.25% women]. Anthropometric measures (height and weight) were collected in-person by study staff. Participants also completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). The established EAT-26 cutoff score of ≥20 was used to identify participants as having elevated risk for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Participants' BMIs were classified according to World Health Organization guidelines. RESULT: Over one-fifth (20.4%) of students in the sample had EAT-26 scores ≥20 (17.2% male and 23.5% female). Students with BMIs classified as overweight or obese were more likely to have elevated EAT-26 scores (OR = 3.572[2.12-6.03], p < .001). A significant positive correlation was found between overweight/obesity, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (r = 0.41, p < .001). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that additional research is needed to investigate eating disorder symptomatology in Bangladeshis. In particular, future studies should use longitudinal designs, and large and diverse samples.
Authors: Md Hasan Al Banna; Mohammad Hamiduzzaman; Satyajit Kundu; Tasnu Ara; Mohammad Tazrian Abid; Keith Brazendale; Abdul-Aziz Seidu; Tasnim Rahman Disu; N H M Rubel Mozumder; James Boadu Frimpong; Md Shafiqul Islam Khan Journal: Front Nutr Date: 2022-04-06