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Risk of eating disorders among university students in Bangladesh

  • Supa Pengpid , Karl Peltzer EMAIL logo and Gias Uddin Ahsan
Published/Copyright: August 12, 2014

Abstract

Objective: As there is a lack of information on eating disorders in Bangladesh, the aim of this study was to explore the eating disorder attitudes and behaviors among undergraduate university students in the country.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey and anthropometric measurement were conducted with undergraduate students who were recruited randomly from classes. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to determine the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes. The sample included 800 university students (56.6% men and 43.4% women), with a mean age of 21.0 years (SD=32.5).

Results: Using the EAT-26, 37.6% of the students were classified as being at risk for an eating disorder. In multivariate analysis, being a late adolescent (17–19 years), high religious involvement, overweight body perception, low body appreciation, having had cosmetic surgery, and current binge drinking were found to be associated with an eating disorder risk.

Discussion: Very high rates of eating disorder risk were found. This result calls for increased awareness and understanding of eating disorders, and related risk factors and interventions in university students in Bangladesh.


Corresponding author: Prof. Karl Peltzer, ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Madidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand, E-mail: ; University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga, South Africa; and HIV/AIDS/STI/and TB (HAST), Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa

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Received: 2014-3-1
Accepted: 2014-5-13
Published Online: 2014-8-12
Published in Print: 2015-2-1

©2015 by De Gruyter

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