Eating Disorder Risk and Extreme Weight-control Behaviours among Young University Students: Is the Desire to Change Eating Habit Correlated?

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the desire to change eating habits and the risk of eating disorders and extreme weight-control behaviours among university students aged 15 to 24 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1470 randomly selected undergraduate students of four universities. Data were collected using the well-validated Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) questionnaire. The effects of the desire to change eating habit on the outcome variables were assessed using odds ratio while possible effect modification by gender was assessed using the Mantel-Haenzsel test. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to build models to predict the outcome variables.

Results: The prevalence of Eating Disorder Risk and Extreme Weight-control Behaviours were 17.01% (95% CI=15.17-19.02) and 23.33% (95% CI=21.24-25.57) respectively. The desire to change eating habits was associated with greater odds of Eating Disorder Risk (1.43; 95CI=1.08-1.90; p= 0.011). The desire to change eating habits was associated with greater odds of Extreme Weight-control Behaviours among male participants (OR=2.37; 95%CI=1.59-3.53; p<0.001). A similar relationship was not found among female participants (OR= 0.98; 95% CI=0.70-1.37; p=0.8899). The Mantel Haenzsel test of homogeneity of odds ratio showed a p-value of 0.0005.

Conclusions: Eating Disorder Risk and Extreme Weight-control Behaviours are highly prevalent among university students in Nigeria. The desire to change eating habits may be correlated with a potential risk for an eating disorder. It could be a simple and realistic initial tool for predicting eating disorders and extreme weight-control behaviours among university students.