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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Disordered eating among Brazilian female college students

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Author(s):
Marle dos Santos Alvarenga [1] ; Bárbara Hatzlhoffer Lourenço [2] ; Sonia Tucunduva Philippi [1] ; Fernanda Baeza Scagliusi [3]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública - Brasil
[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Saude, Santos - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Cadernos de Saúde Pública; v. 29, n. 5, p. 879-888, 2013-05-00.
Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and nutritional factors associated with disordered eating among Brazilian female college students (n = 2,489). Prevalence ratios of risk factors were calculated using Poisson regression models with robust variance based on responses to selected questions from the Eating Attitude Test and Disordered Eating Attitude Scale. It was found that 40.7% of students were dieting, 35.6% were using diet or compensatory methods, 23.9% skipping meals, 12.6% not eating or just drinking liquids, and 3.3%, vomiting to lose weight. A positive association was found between not eating or just drinking liquids and skipping meals and nutritional status after adjustment for age and region. A positive association was found between compensatory methods and dieting and education level of the head of the family. Disordered eating behaviors were frequent, and not eating and skipping meals were more prevalent among overweight/obese students; compensatory methods and dieting were less prevalent among students from families whose head had up to only four years of education. Prevention strategies and food education are necessary in order to decrease the prevalence of these behaviors. (AU)