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Ghazzawi HA, Alhaj OA, Nemer LS, Amawi AT, Trabelsi K, Jahrami HA. The Prevalence of "at Risk" Eating Disorders among Athletes in Jordan. Sports (Basel) 2022; 10:182. [PMID: 36422951 PMCID: PMC9693192 DOI: 10.3390/sports10110182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are addressed as one of the expanding mental health problems worldwide. While an ED is a clinical psychiatric diagnosis that can only be established after a psychiatric assessment, it is important to note that "at-risk" refers to people who will exhibit aberrant eating patterns but do not fully meet the requirements for an ED diagnosis. This study was designed to address the ED symptoms (i.e., "at-risk") in Jordanian athletes and their association with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and type of sport. A convenient, cross-sectional study was conducted among 249 athlete participants by answering the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). The EAT-26 results indicated an ED prevalence of 34% among Jordanian athletes. Within "at-risk" ED athletes, sex, age, and BMI had no significant differences in the rates of EDs. Outdoor sports had the least effect on EDs, while the highest was amongst gymnastics. EDs prevalence is alarming among Jordanian athletes. Gymnastics is a risk factor for increasing EDs. Our results should be taken into consideration by physicians, mental health professionals, sports nutritionists, coaches, and sport medicine specialists. We recommend establishing strategies pertaining to mental health, especially EDs in sports centers, along with screening programs for those who demand additional assessment and supervision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadeel A. Ghazzawi
- Department Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Omar A. Alhaj
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Petra, Amman 1196, Jordan
| | - Lana S. Nemer
- Department Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Adam T. Amawi
- Department of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Al-Salt 19328, Jordan
| | - Khaled Trabelsi
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
- Research Laboratory Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, EM2S, LR19JS01, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
| | - Haitham A. Jahrami
- Ministry of Health, Manama 410, Bahrain
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 323, Bahrain
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The prevalence of feeding and eating disorders symptomology in medical students: an updated systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:1991-2010. [PMID: 35067859 PMCID: PMC8784279 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01351-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Medical students have a higher risk of developing psychological issues, such as feeding and eating disorders (FEDs). In the past few years, a major increase was observed in the number of studies on the topic. The goal of this review was to estimate the prevalence risk of FEDs and its associated risk factors in medical students. METHODS Nine electronic databases were used to conduct an electronic search from the inception of the databases until 15th September 2021. The DerSimonian-Laird technique was used to pool the estimates using random-effects meta-analysis. The prevalence of FEDs risk in medical students was the major outcome of interest. Data were analyzed globally, by country, by research measure and by culture. Sex, age, and body mass index were examined as potential confounders using meta-regression analysis. RESULTS A random-effects meta-analysis evaluating the prevalence of FEDs in medical students (K = 35, N = 21,383) generated a pooled prevalence rate of 17.35% (95% CI 14.15-21.10%), heterogeneity [Q = 1528 (34), P = 0.001], τ2 = 0.51 (95% CI 0.36-1.05), τ = 0.71 (95% CI 0.59-1.02), I2 = 97.8%; H = 6.70 (95% CI 6.19-7.26). Age and sex were not significant predictors. Body mass index, culture and used research tool were significant confounders. CONCLUSION The prevalence of FEDs symptoms in medical students was estimated to be 17.35%. Future prospective studies are urgently needed to construct prevention and treatment programs to provide better outcomes for students at risk of or suffering from FEDs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level I, systematic review and meta-analysis.
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Hoteit M, Mohsen H, Bookari K, Moussa G, Jurdi N, Yazbeck N. Prevalence, correlates, and gender disparities related to eating disordered behaviors among health science students and healthcare practitioners in Lebanon: Findings of a national cross sectional study. Front Nutr 2022; 9:956310. [PMID: 35928833 PMCID: PMC9345498 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.956310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe raised prevalence of eating disorders (ED) amongst health science students and health professionals is of mounting concern. This study aims to determine the prevalence and correlates of eating disorders risk amongst a sample of Lebanese health science students and healthcare practitioners of both genders.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled a convenient sample of 1,000 participants (mean age: 23 ± 5.4; females: 74.9%) from faculties of health sciences, clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals. The validated Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to screen for eating disorders. Anthropometric data were self-reported by respondents to assess their nutritional status.ResultsThe risk of eating disorders was prevalent in 22.5% of participants. Females were at higher risk of ED compared to males p = 0.03. Eating disorders risk did not differ between students and practitioners (p = 0.3). The highest proportion of high-risk participants were students studying nutrition and practitioners (40.9%), outracing their counterparts in nursing (18.7%), medicine (17.8%), pharmacy (17.7%), and midwifery (4.9%) sciences (p = 0.02). Most high-risk participants had normal body weight (60.4%), and 28.9% were overweight (p = 0.001). Female gender, nutrition profession, and dieting were associated with increasing the odd of ED. Particularly, dieting increased the risk around five times. Further, each 3 participants over 10 were facing binge eating behavior.ConclusionThis study uncovers an undervalued profession-related-health-disorder in Lebanese health science students and healthcare practitioners. Specific attention should be given to EDs in professional educational programmes across healthcare disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition prOgram Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- *Correspondence: Maha Hoteit
| | - Hala Mohsen
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition prOgram Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Khlood Bookari
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Executive Department of Monitoring and Risk Assessment, Food Sector, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madina, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghadir Moussa
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Najwa Jurdi
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nour Yazbeck
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition prOgram Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Baranauskas M, Kupčiūnaitė I, Stukas R. Potential Triggers for Risking the Development of Eating Disorders in Non-Clinical Higher-Education Students in Emerging Adulthood. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14112293. [PMID: 35684093 PMCID: PMC9182964 DOI: 10.3390/nu14112293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, eating disorders (ED) among individuals during emerging adulthood have become a crucial challenge to public health, taking into account the fact that the global prevalence of the ED risk in student-aged populations already stands at 10.4% and has been sharply increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, from 50% to 80% of all the ED cases go undetected or are not correctly diagnosed; moreover, these individuals do not receive specialized treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis detected via screening questionnaires for ED is highly recommended. This study aimed to identify the triggers for ED risk development in emerging-adulthood individuals and to reveal the factors significant not only for ED prevention but also for assessing individuals with subthreshold symptoms. This cross-sectional study provides the results for the ED symptom screening in 1716 Lithuanian higher-education students aged 21.2 ± 3.9, during emerging adulthood. According to the results of this study, 19.2% of students were at risk for ED. Potential risk factors such as sex (odds ratio (OR): 3.1, 95% CI: 1.9–4.9), body weight (self-reported body mass index) (adjusted (A) OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2–1.7) and comorbidities such as smoking (AOR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.6–2.8), and perceived stress during the pandemic (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–1.8) are involved in anticipating the symptomatology of ED during emerging adulthood. Regular initial screenings with universally adopted questionnaires and further referral to a psychiatrist must be applied to promote both the diagnosis of early-onset symptomatology and the treatment of these ED in student-aged populations. Preventive programs for reducing the prevalence of overweight or obesity among students during emerging adulthood should focus on integration directions for the development of a positive body image.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Baranauskas
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Panevėžys University of Applied Sciences, 35200 Panevėžys, Lithuania;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ingrida Kupčiūnaitė
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Panevėžys University of Applied Sciences, 35200 Panevėžys, Lithuania;
| | - Rimantas Stukas
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania;
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