Association between eating habits and psychosocial well-being among university students of Rawalpindi city.

Abstract

Background: Eating disorder and psychosocial factors are an important public health issue as it is an indirect predictors for promoting unhealthy eating patterns and multiple health issues. It can lead to many health issues and people may suffer from multiple diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiac issues and many other. Objectives: current study was conducted to find the association between eating habits’ and psychosocial well-being with sociodemographic features among university students of age 19-24 years in Rawalpindi city. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out at public and private universities of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A total of 240 respondents were included in the study to find out the association. Data for eating habits and psychosocial well-being was collected Using EAT26 and CES scales. Chi-square test of association was applied to check the association of eating habits and psychosocial well-being with socio-demographic factors. Adjusted OR ratios were calculated to find out main predictors of each type of psychocial factor affecting eating habits. Results: Out of total 240 respondents, majority were females (n=145, 60%) and were 19 21 years of age (n=155, 64%). N=9 (3%) were married and the rest 231(96%) were unmarried. Students who were studying in public universities were N=109 (45%) and N=131(54%) were studying in a private university. N=91 (37%) students were living in hostels whereas N=149 (62%) were day scholars. BMI was categorized in four groups there was no participants labelled as obese, majority of the participants were with normal weight N=164(68%), N=18(7%) participants were labelled as overweight. N=58 (24%) participants were underweight. iv Results showed that full model binary logistic regression containing all predictors was statistically significant (p = 0.0001) indicating that the model was able to distinguish between respondents who reported disturbed eating patterns because psychosocial factors. Chi-square test was carried out to check the association between sociodemographic variables and eating habits. Results showed that there was no significant association between any of the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. As the p value for all the variables was more than 0.005 which is considered not significant. Conclusion: The current study concluded that there was significant difference between psychosocial wellbeing and eating habits among university students but had no significant association between sociodemographic and eating habits. Half of the students had unhealthy dietary habits. The unhealthy habits were irregular meals, inadequate consumption of snacks, and water intake. Students' eating habits were significantly affected by the psychological factors Keywords: Eating disorders, Body image, eating attitudes, Body mass index, Rawalpindi, Psychological factors, sociodemographic features.