Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

Eating Attitudes Related to the Nutritional Status of University Girls in Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Eating attitudes toward food may have an effect on overall health and contribute to cultural differences in non-communicable diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 University girls in Peshawar to investigate eating attitude in relation to nutritional status. Girls were assessed in personal regarding eating attitude, anthropometric, dietary and biochemical indices. Based on Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) scales, girls with and without eating disorders (anorexic and non-anorexic groups) were identified. In SPSS, An independent t-test and chisquare test were used to evaluate association between anemia and risk factors. Point-biserial and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient showed positive association of EAT-26 and body image score with Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), Total Body Fat (TBF) and Visceral Body Fat (VBF) while negative correlation with Hemoglobin (Hb) (p<0.01). In the logistic regression analysis, two major dietary patterns, healthy (49%) and (51%) unhealthy were identified. Anorexic girls were 69 (27.6%) and non-anorexic 181 (72.4%). Means weight, BMI, WC, WHR, TBF and VBF of the non-anorexic group were significantly lower than those of anorexic groups (p<0.05). Based on BMI and WC, more anorexic girls were found overweight and obese in comparison to the rest (p<0.05). Risk factors associated with anemia included underweight, poor eating attitude, anxiety/depression and stress; supplements not using and unhealthy dietary pattern. The study concluded that University girls are at higher risk for getting eating disorders which may lead to both acute and chronic health problems.

Author(s):

Ayesha Syed, Zia ud Din, Falak Zeb, Fazia Ghaffar, Saleem Khan, Mudassir Iqbal and Bilal Ali Khan

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