Risky weight control among university students.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the current study were to investigate risky weight control measures (vomiting or pills) among university students in Lebanon and to assess their relation to demographic, scholastic, and health risk behavioral characteristics.


METHODS
The study used a cross-sectional design. A proportionate random sample of 2,013 students was selected from public and private universities in Greater Beirut. Each participant completed a self-administered anonymous questionnaire.


RESULTS
Among participating students, 123 (6.1%) reported practicing risky weight control measures. Multivariate analysis indicated that younger females, cigarette smokers, engaged/married students, and those with a higher body mass index (BMI) were at increased odds of performing risky weight control measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Health awareness measures need to be proposed and, if possible, implemented to better define the motives and methods of weight reduction among Lebanese youth.
Tamim
Hala
H
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. ht02@aub.edu.lb
Tamim
Rana
R
Almawi
Wassim
W
Rahi
Amal
A
Shamseddeen
Wael
W
Ghazi
Adline
A
Taha
Asaad
A
Musharrafieh
Umayya
U
D001835:Body Weight; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D015431:Weight Loss