Eating disorders risk and its relation to self-esteem and body image in Iranian university students of medical sciences.
OBJECTIVE
Eating disorders are rapidly increasing in young adults. But, a few studies have examined the risk of eating disorders and body image in university students of non-Western societies. The current study aimed to assess eating disorders risk in relation to body image and self-esteem among Iranian university students.


METHODS
The participants were 430 students from Tabriz, between April and May 2015. The 26-item Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Questionnaires were used. EAT-26 score of 20 or more was considered as eating disorders risk cutoff.


RESULTS
Majority of the students (68 %) were females. The overall eating disorders risk was 9.5 % (7.5 and 10.5 % in men and women, respectively). Further, the prevalence of poor body image and low self-esteem was 34.2 and 16 %, respectively. Neither of the gender differences was statistically significant (p > 0.05). In simple logistic regression, there were significant associations between self-esteem, body image, parental education and eating disorders risk (p < 0.025). But, after adjustments for gender, age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and marital status, only self-esteem (OR = 0.37, 95 % = 0.16-0.87) and mother's education level (OR = 2.78, 95 % = 1.30-5.93) were predictors of eating disorders risk.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings revealed that low self-esteem and mother's higher education may increase eating disorders risk and the predictive role of body image possibly is by other mediators such as self-esteem. This warrants awareness improvement and developing appropriate interventions targeting self-esteem and self-respect of students.
Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St, Tabriz, Iran. fnalireza@yahoo.com.
Alireza Farsad
AF
Naeimi
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Hossein Khadem
HK
Haghighian
Department of Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Bahram Pourghassem
BP
Gargari
Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Alizadeh
Department of Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Tohid
T
Rouzitalab
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Body image; Body satisfaction; Eating attitude; Eating disorders risk; Iranian university students; Self-esteem; Women’s health; Young adults