Eating behavior and physical activity in relation to obesity among medical students at Mansoura University, Egypt.

Abstract

Background/aim: Medical students are subjected to the risk of obesity due to various factors. Understanding behavioral issues may provide an important insight into obesity development, prevention, and treatment. Emotional, uncontrolled, and restrictive eating practices are problematic eating behaviors characterized by food intake independent of hunger but based on emotional state. Limited data from Egypt are currently available; therefore, this study was undertaken with the objective to find the frequency of overweight and obesity among medical students at Mansoura University, Egypt. Eating behavior and physical activity in relation to overweight/obesity were also assessed.

Methods: A total of 368 undergraduate medical students were included in this study. Eating behavior was described using the French translation of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18. Obesity and physical activity were assessed according to WHO recommendations.

Results: Among the total students, 54% were normal weight, 32% were overweight, 9% were obese class I, 2% were obese class II, 1% were obese class III, and 2% were underweight. Overweight/obese students had significantly lower physical activity than nonoverweight/obese. Cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating were significantly higher in overweight/obese compared with nonoverweight/obese students. Cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating were significantly correlated with body mass index. Uncontrolled eating was negatively correlated with sex and residence, whereas emotional eating was negatively correlated with physical activity. Female sex, physical inactivity, increased cognitive restraint, and increased emotional eating scores were significant predictors of obesity in the studied medical students.

Conclusion: Medical students are likely to be overweight or obese. The main risk factors associated with overweight and obesity are female sex, lack of physical activity, and cognitive and emotional restraint but not uncontrolled eating.