Binge eating symptoms prevalence and relationship with psychosocial factors among female undergraduate students at Palestine Polytechnic University: a cross-sectional study

Energy drinks and waterpipe smoking associated with disordered eating habits among male Palestinian refugees

This cross-sectional study highlights the concerning relationship between stimulants, alcohol use, and weight-related problems among Palestinian refugee men in the West Bank. Self-administered questionnaires were used to gather data on stimulants and alcohol use and eating attitudes and behaviors (EAT-26). The findings revealed that many refugee men were daily cigarette (61.4%) and waterpipe smokers (15.5%), while 30.6% and 2.3% were daily energy drink and alcohol users, respectively. Moreover, most refugee men (67.3%) were obese, and 23.5% were terrified about being obese. They had disordered eating habits, including the impulse to vomit after meals (63.3%). Moreover, 30.7% scored ≥20 using EAT-26 scale, and 44.4% scored at least one positive behavior, including binge eating (40.4%), purging (10.0%), using laxatives or diet pills (8.3%), excessive exercise (30.9%), and losing weight (24.6%). The results of the adjusted binary logistic regression indicated that risk factors associated with self-induced vomiting were daily (OR = 2.71, p-value = 0.004) and weekly energy drink intake (OR = 2.41, p-value = 0.023), weekly alcohol intake (OR = 10.83, p-value = 0.036), and obesity (OR = 2.57, p-value = 0.002), while inversely associated with weekly waterpipe smoking (OR = 0.297, p-value = 0.007). Obesity was inversely associated with daily (OR = 0.146, p-value < 0.01) and weekly waterpipe smoking (OR = 0.259, p-value = 0.002), and weekly cigarette smoking (OR = 0.251, p-value < 0.01). The study underscores the urgent need for community awareness, professional evaluation, and treatment for obesity and disordered eating habits among Palestinian refugee men. It is essential to address the detrimental effects of alcohol and energy drink intake and tobacco smoking to improve the health outcomes of this vulnerable population.

Factors associated with positive body image among Palestinian university female students, cross-sectional study

Background

Studies suggested that body image is influenced by biological, psychological, historical, individual, cultural, and social factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body image, lifestyle, social pressure, and social media in Palestinian female university students.

Method

A sample of 905 female undergraduate students (mean age: 20 ± 1.55 years old) from Palestinian universities were included in this cross-sectional study. In this study, the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS-2) was used for measuring body appreciation. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28. One-way ANOVA, independent t-test, Cohen's d and Partial Eta Square, Pearson's correlation, and simple linear regression tests were performed. In addition, a mixed regression model was used to identify the predictors of Body Appreciation.

Results

It was found that higher BMI, following models and celebrities on social media, following models/celebrities' nutritional advice, self-perceived family and friends pressure, previous dieting, and longer daily phone time were associated with lower body appreciation among female university students. While physical activity was associated with higher body appreciation.

Conclusion

Body appreciation was significantly associated to lifestyle, social pressure, and social media use in the study sample. A higher BMI, following models and celebrities on social media, family and friend pressure, dieting, and daily phone use time decreased body appreciation. While being more physically active was linked to a higher body appreciation.

Binge-eating disorder in university students: high prevalence and strong link to impulsive and compulsive traits

BACKGROUND

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder, and is associated with significant comorbidity, with university students being particularly vulnerable. We aimed to assess associations of BED with a wide range of comorbidities and measures of impulsivity and compulsivity in university students, to gain better understanding of its prevalence, correlates and pathophysiology.

METHODS

We carried out an internet-based survey, assessing presence of BED using a validated structured self-report diagnostic tool, demographics, substance use, impulsive behaviors, psychiatric history, and measures of impulsivity and compulsivity. Approximately 10 000 students were invited to take part. Group differences between students with current BED and students without BED were investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 3415 students completed the survey, with 83 (2.4%) screening positive for BED. BED was associated with female gender, hazardous/harmful alcohol use, depression and anxiety symptoms, low self-esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, treatment for psychological/emotional problems (including prescribed medication) and trait impulsivity and compulsivity. However, the largest effect sizes were evident for associations with trait impulsivity and compulsivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations of BED with trait impulsivity and compulsivity implicate these latent phenotypes in its pathophysiology. The identified links between BED and a wide range of mental disorders highlight the need to screen for disordered eating in student populations, including when students present with other mental health conditions.

Prevalence and associated factors of binge eating disorder among Bahraini youth and young adults: a cross-sectional study in a self-selected convenience sample

BACKGROUND

Binge eating disorder (BED) is defined as recurrent ingestion of an unusually large amount of food in a discrete period of time. BED has the highest prevalence of all eating disorders. Studies have shown a strong relationship between BED and both physical and psychological factors such as obesity, depression and anxiety. This research aimed to report the prevalence and associated factors of BED among Bahrainis (aged 15-30 years).

METHODS

A total of 959 participants (aged 15-30 years) completed self-administered online questionnaires. BED was measured using the binge eating disorder Screener-7. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7 were used to measure depression and anxiety, respectively.

RESULTS

Out of all participants, 21.2% had binge eating symptoms. A higher BMI, a restricted diet, depression and anxiety were associated with more frequent binge eating symptoms. Out of all associated factors, depression had the strongest association with binge eating, (rp = 0.371, p < 0.0001). However, sociodemographic variables including age and other medical conditions were not significantly associated with BED symptoms.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the prevalence of BED symptoms was significantly high among the study participants. The results point out the crucial role of awareness of the interaction between obesity, depression and anxiety as potential risk factors for binge eating tendencies. Further research should examine their relationship with BED.

The prevalence and risk factors of screen-based disordered eating among university students: a global systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

PURPOSE

The purpose of this review was to estimate the prevalence of screen-based disordered eating (SBDE) and several potential risk factors in university undergraduate students around the world.

METHODS

An electronic search of nine data bases was conducted from the inception of the databases until 1st October 2021. Disordered eating was defined as the percentage of students scoring at or above established cut-offs on validated screening measures. Global data were also analyzed by country, research measure, and culture. Other confounders in this review were age, BMI, and sex.

RESULTS

Using random-effects meta-analysis, the mean estimate of the distribution of effects for the prevalence of SBDE among university students (K = 105, N = 145,629) was [95% CI] = 19.7% [17.9%; 21.6%], I2 = 98.2%, Cochran's Q p value = 0.001. Bayesian meta-analysis produced an estimate of 0.24, 95% credible intervals [0.20, 0.30], τ = 92%. Whether the country in which the students were studying was Western or non-Western did not moderate these effects, but as either the mean BMI of the sample or the percentage of the sample that was female increased, the prevalence of SBDE increased.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support previous studies indicating that many undergraduate students are struggling with disordered eating or a diagnosable eating disorder, but are neither receiver effective prevention nor accessing accurate diagnosis and available treatment. It is particularly important to develop ever more valid ways of identifying students with high levels of disordered eating and offering them original or culturally appropriate and effective prevention or early treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

I, systematic review and meta-analysis.

Frequency of binge eating behavior in patients with borderline personality disorder and its relation to emotional regulation and impulsivity

PURPOSE

Eating disorders are common among patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), contributing to their lack of treatment response and bad prognosis. In this context, it is helpful to examine the relevance of eating behavior and to understand whether borderline traits are higher in those individuals. In this study, a sample of patients with BPD screened to determine the frequency of binge eating (BE) behaviors and its relation to impulsivity and emotional dysregulation.

METHOD

Seventy participants aged 25.81 ± 6.34 years were recruited from Okasha Institute of psychiatry, Cairo, Egypt. Diagnosed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders (SCID-II), assessed for impulsivity, emotion regulation using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Trait Meta Mood Scale (TMMS), respectively, and screened for BE behaviors by Binge Eating Scale.

RESULTS

All of the participants had medium emotional regulation propensity 82.63 ± 10.81 and showed variable degrees of impulsivity, mainly moderate 42 (60%). More than half of the participants had BE behavior 37 (~ 53%), with a significant negative correlation with clarity of feeling, total score of TMMS, and age. Similarly, on comparing the participant with binging versus no binging group, a significant relation between BE behavior, fear of abandonment (p value 0.02), clarity of feeling, and total score of TMMS was found. However, no significant relation between BE behavior & impulsivity demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

A substantial number of patients with BPD suffering from BE, showing relation between binging, emotion dysregulation, and fear of abandonment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

The relationship between the high-risk disordered eating and social network navigation among Saudi college females during the COVID pandemic

Background

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) are complex health issues that may lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes among college students. More studies should be directed toward the screening of DEBs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DEBs among Saudi female university students and their association with social networking site (SNSs) usage and composite lifestyle behaviors during the unprecedented period of COVID-19.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 445 females recruited using stratified random sampling. The participants self-reported demographic, social, medical, and lifestyle data and completed the validated Arabic version of the Eating Attitudes Test-26, Social Networking Sites (SNSs) Usage Questionnaire, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and Body Shape Questionnaire.

Results

The prevalence of DEBs was 27.2% among the female students at Taif University. From the pre-pandemic period until the current time, the DEBs-risk group had a significantly higher SNS navigation rate (36.4%) than the normal group (20.4%) (X ² = 30.015, p = 0.001). The regression analysis revealed that females with a significant body image concern, higher number of SNSs friends, and frequent visits to SNSs, and those seeking social-dependent information in relation to weight loss/dieting were more likely to develop DEBs (Overall Model: Chi-Square X ² = 158.071, p < 0.000^**).

Conclusions

SNSs usage and DEBs were associated during the COVID-pandemic. However, the composite lifestyle score did not demonstrate a significant association with DEBs among the female students at Taif University. Investigating the magnitude of DEBs and understanding the role of SNS are essential for preventing disordered eating among young females.

The association between problematic Internet use, eating disorder behaviors, and well-being among Palestinian university students

Objectives

The current study aimed to test the correlation between problematic Internet use, eating disorder behaviors, and well-being among Palestinian university students.

Methods

To examine the relationship between the study variables, a correlational study was conducted. The geographical representation of the study sample showed that 48.1% of participants were from urban populations, 48.1% were from rural villages, and 3.8% were from internally displaced people’s camps.

Results

Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between problematic Internet use, eating disorder behaviors, and well-being. Results showed that problematic Internet use was negatively correlated to well-being (r = − .32, p < .01), and positively correlated to eating disorder behaviors (r = .39, p < .01). The regression analysis found that problematic Internet use contributes statistically and significantly towards explaining variance in eating disorder behaviors (B = .46, SE = .08, β = .32). Moreover, well-being contributed in a way that was statistically significant towards explaining variance in eating disorders behaviors (B = − .39, SE = .09, β = − .25).

Conclusion

The results of our study support previous studies that indicated that problematic Internet use was significantly and positively correlated with eating disorder behaviors, while it was significantly and negatively correlated to well-being among Palestinian university students. Further studies testing this relationship will be crucial in developing interventions to both reduce problematic Internet use and eating disorder behaviors and increase well-being among university students.

Loss of control over eating: A systematic review of task based research into impulsive and compulsive processes in binge eating

Recurring episodes of excessive food intake in binge eating disorder can be understood through the lens of behavioral control systems: patients repeat maladaptive behaviors against their explicit intent. Self-report measures show enhanced impulsivity and compulsivity in binge eating (BE) but are agnostic as to the processes that might lead to impulsive and compulsive behavior in the moment. Task-based neurocognitive investigations can tap into those processes. In this systematic review, we synthesize neurocognitive research on behavioral impulsivity and compulsivity in BE in humans and animals, published between 2010-2020. Findings on impulsivity are heterogeneous. Findings on compulsivity are sparse but comparatively consistent, indicating an imbalance of goal-directed and habitual control as well as deficits in reversal learning. We urge researchers to address heterogeneity related to mood states and the temporal dynamics of symptoms, to systematically differentiate contributions of body weight and BE, and to ascertain the validity and reliability of tasks. Moreover, we propose to further scrutinize the compulsivity findings to unravel the computational mechanisms of a potential reinforcement learning deficit.

Binge eating symptoms are associated with the severity of premenstrual symptoms among university students, cross sectional study from Palestine

BACKGROUND

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is considered one of the most prevailing disorders among childbearing age women that could considerably interfere with daily living activities life. PMS is underrecognized in Palestine. It is reported that binge eating symptoms are significantly related to premenstrual syndrome. In this regard, the study aimed to determine factors linked with premenstrual symptoms and to explore whether binge eating symptoms are linked with premenstrual syndrome.

METHODS

This descriptive study was performed among female undergraduates at Palestine Polytechnic University, using a cross-sectional design. A self-administrated questionnaire was used in order to collect data. Moreover, participants' nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test and Chi-square were performed.

RESULTS

A sum of 289 undergraduate females were involved in the final analysis. The results indicated that nearly half of undergraduates (47.8%) were classified as having binge eating symptoms. The most frequently noted premenstrual symptoms were lethargy, anger feelings, lack of interest, and anxiety. Chi-square analysis showed that moderate and severe psychological symptoms were significantly more prevalent among females with binge eating symptoms. Besides it was found that moderate and severe physical symptoms were significantly more prevalent among females with binge eating symptoms. Moreover, participants who reported no premenstrual syndrome symptoms were significantly less prevalent among females with binge eating symptoms. The findings also reveal that sociodemographic characteristics was not significantly correlated with premenstrual syndrome symptoms. In multiple adjusted models, both smoking (p < 0.05) and binge eating (p < 0.0001) were significantly related to PMS.

CONCLUSION

Findings reveals that moderate and severe psychological and physical symptoms were significantly more prevalent among females with binge eating symptoms. The current research also reported that the severity of PMS was not significantly related to sociodemographic variables.

Consequences of the COVID-19 Syndemic for Nutritional Health: A Systematic Review

Confinement at home, quarantine, and social distancing are some measures adopted worldwide to prevent the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), which has been generating an important alteration in the routines and qualities of life of people. The impact on health is still being evaluated, and consequences in the nutritional field are not entirely clear. The study objective was to evaluate the current evidence about the impact that preventive measures of physical contact restriction causes in healthy nutrition. A systematic review was carried out according to the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" PRISMA Group and Cochrane method for rapid systematic reviews. Searching was performed in six electronic databases and evaluated articles published between 2010 and 2020, including among their participants adult subjects who had been exposed to the preventive measures of physical contact restriction. Seven studies met the selection criteria and reported an overall increase in food consumption, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and a change in eating style. Findings suggest that healthy nutrition is affected by preventive measures to restrict physical contact as a result of the COVID-19 syndemic.

Eating patterns and unhealthy weight control behaviors are associated with loss-of-control eating following bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND

Loss-of-control (LOC) eating is associated with poor weight-loss outcomes following bariatric surgery. It is not clear whether eating patterns (e.g., total number of daily meals/snacks, eating after suppertime, eating when not hungry) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (e.g., smoking, using laxatives) are associated with or predictive of LOC eating.

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether eating patterns and unhealthy weight-control behaviors are associated with LOC eating and, if so, whether they predict LOC eating in bariatric patients.

SETTING

Multicenter study, United States.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 study. Assessments were conducted before surgery and at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 84 months after surgery. Logistic mixed models were used to examine the longitudinal associations between eating patterns, unhealthy weight-control behaviors, and LOC eating. Time-lag techniques were applied to examine whether the associated patterns and behaviors predict LOC eating.

RESULTS

The participants (n = 1477) were mostly women (80%), white (86.9%), and married (62.5%). At the time of surgery, the mean age was 45.4 ± 11.0 years and the mean body mass index was 47.8 ± 7.5 kg/m². The total number of daily meals/snacks, food intake after suppertime, eating when not hungry, eating when feeling full, and use of any unhealthy weight-control behaviors were positively associated with LOC eating (P < .05). Food intake after suppertime, eating when not hungry, and eating when feeling full predicted LOC eating (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Meal patterns and unhealthy weight control behaviors may be important intervention targets for addressing LOC eating after bariatric surgery.

Anxiety disorders and PTSD in Palestine: a literature review

BACKGROUND

The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. Most people who experience such events recover from it; however, people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be severely depressed and anxious for several months or even years following the event. Palestinians are particularly at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders and PTSD due to the continuous exposure to political violence, prolonged displacement, and other limitation on professional, educational, financial opportunities, and mental health services. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the literature and established studies concerning Anxiety disorders besides PTSD in Palestine.

METHODS

PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar was used to search for materials for the critical analysis of empirical articles. The following aspects were taken into consideration: study type, sample, and key findings.

RESULTS

In this review, we included about twenty-four studies from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza). Five studies relate to children, five relate to adolescents, three relate to women, three relate to physical diseases, and four relate to gender and age differences. Results show that anxiety disorders and PTSD are one of the most common mental disorders in Palestine. Anxiety and PTSD develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, personality, and life events. They are mostly associated with low quality of life and disability. The results indicate that a significant proportion of Palestinian experiencing serious issues that deal with several challenges, distinct barriers including; inconsistent availability of medications, absence of multidisciplinary teamwork, insufficient specialists, fragmented mental health system, and occupation.

CONCLUSION

As primary prevention, the occupation has to have considered as the main source of anxiety and other mental health disorders in Palestine. Besides, there is a need to implement a mental health care system through multidisciplinary work and raising awareness regarding the prevalence of mental disorders.