Screening of eating disorders and its related factors among Syrian undergraduates: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) are a complex group of disorders that affect mental and physical health and pose a challenge for medical professionals to diagnose. This study aims to screen for eating disorders among Syrian university undergraduates. Methods and materials A cross-sectional study was conducted among Syrian university students using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits and barriers to healthy eating, and the Sick, Control, One, Fat, Food (SCOFF) score. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the factors related to eating disorders. Results Of 728 students, 45.3% were males and 54.7% females. The majority of participants studied medicine 32.3%, followed by pharmacy 25.7% and dentistry 17.6%. Overweight and obese participants represented 21.4% and 6.8% respectively. Merely 36% of students reported adopting a healthy diet, a greater percentage of females 58.8% reported having snacks compared to males 48.5% (P = 0.006), a higher percentage of females 38.8% reported consuming fast food compared to males 26.6% (P < 0.001). Most of the students' eating habits worsened during exams 55.7%, females 60.6% markedly reported worse eating habits during exams compared to males 50% (P = 0.017). Lack of time 72.7%, not accessible 38.3%, and unenjoyable 31.6% were frequent barriers to healthy food. About 20.3% of students screened positive for probable eating disorders. Factors that elevate the likelihood of acquiring an ED encompass being female, having a lower or higher BMI, eating worse during exams, and psychological behaviors. Conclusions Probable EDs were prevalent among Syrian undergraduates. The addressed socio-demographic and psychological factors were significantly affecting students’ eating behaviors. These findings can be used to provide targeted lifestyle modification advice via health promotion programs for these specific groups.