Dr. Mercedes Briones, a researcher at the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana (International Iberoamerican University, UNIB), is collaborating in a study that addresses risk factors for eating disorders in university students.
Eating disorders (EDs) are a major concern in today's society and affect people of all ages. These serious mental illnesses are characterized by a distorted perception of body image and an excessive obsession with food intake. Although anyone can develop an eating disorder, there are higher incidence rates among women, mainly between the ages of 15 and 19.
To learn how this problem is generated in students, Dr. Briones, together with other professionals, conducted an observational and descriptive study involving 129 first- and fourth-year students at the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO) over a two-year period. The risk of developing this eating disorder was assessed using self-administered tests, such as SCOFF, EAT-26 and BITE. In addition, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was examined as a measure of diet quality among the students. Data were collected at the beginning and end of the academic year to assess changes in risk factors.
The findings of the study revealed interesting data. At the beginning of the academic year, 34.9% of the participants were found to be at risk for developing general eating disorders. Further analysis showed that 3.9% were at risk for anorexia nervosa (AN) and 16.3% were at risk for bulimia nervosa (BN). As the academic year progressed, these percentages increased slightly to 37.2%, 14.7%, and 8.5%, respectively. This indicates an increased risk of developing this behavior in question among college students during their professional development.
It was also found that women in their first year of college were twice as likely to be at risk for developing general eating disorders compared to men. This suggests that gender plays an important role in the susceptibility to the development of this problem. In addition, an inverse relationship was determined between the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the risk of developing the disorders. Students with low to moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a much lower risk compared to those with low adherence. This emphasizes the importance of promoting a healthy and balanced diet to prevent the occurrence of the disorders.
The findings indicate the need for specific interventions, especially in relation to gender differences in susceptibility, and the promotion of a healthy diet. It is crucial to raise awareness and provide support for young adults to maintain a positive body image and healthy diet throughout their academic career. By addressing these issues, a better environment can be created for college students to thrive both academically and mentally.
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