Disordered eating attitudes among Iranian university students of medical sciences: The role of body image perception.

Background: Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors have become an issue of worldwide concern.

Aim: This research was designed to investigate the role of body image satisfaction in the relationship with eating attitudes among students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 385 Qazvin university students of medical sciences were recruited by randomized stratified sampling in 2014. The students completed a three-part questionnaire (socio-demographic, Eating Attitudes Test and Body Shape Questionnaire) in their classrooms. We used hierarchical generalized linear models to identify variables significantly associated with Eating Attitudes Test scores.

Results: The mean age of the students was 21.80 ± 2.98 years. Mean scores for the Eating Attitudes Test and Body Shape Questionnaire were 66.75 ± 29.8 and 11.86 ± 10.97 respectively; 18.5% of students had a score of 20 and above (≥ 20) that indicated disordered eating attitudes or as being at risk of eating disorders. In the multiple regression model, the Eating Attitudes Test was related to screening body image dissatisfaction (β = 0.122, < 0.001). Body mass index was negatively related to the Eating Attitudes Test score (β= -0.488, < 0.016), and diet was significantly correlated with an increased Eating Attitudes Test score (β = 5.803, < 0.001).

Conclusions: The risk of eating disorders is relatively high among Iranian university students. It can be a warning to health policy makers and should be the focus of special attention. In the present study, the most important factor related to abnormal eating attitudes was body image dissatisfaction. Regarding the complexity of the causes of eating disorders, various preventive and therapeutic interventions are necessary to avoid the dissemination in society of an idealized view of excessive thinness and further unfavorable outcomes in college students.