Associate Professor in Educational Psychology, Faculty of Art and Humanities, A'Sharqiyah University, Ibra, Oman.
Department of Medical Sciences, University College of Science and Technology, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Front Public Health. 2024 Aug 29;12:1411229. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1411229. eCollection 2024.
Various factors, including dietary habits, lifestyle choices, socio-economic status, cultural attitudes, academic stress, and access to mental health support services, influence the relationship between obesity and mental health among university students in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Understanding these complex interactions is crucial for developing effective interventions to promote both physical and mental well-being among students in the region. Therefore, this systematic review aims at understanding the variables associated with the relationship between obesity and mental health among university students in the (GCC) countries.
This systematic review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) [CRD42024517806]. We conducted a systematic literature search using electronic databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published up to 28-February-2024. A narrative synthesis approach was employed to summarize the findings of included studies. Data were synthesized according to predefined themes related to variables associated with the relationship between obesity and mental health among university students in GCC countries.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among university students in GCC countries is alarmingly high, with a mean rate of 29.4%. Depression, anxiety, and body image dissatisfaction are significantly associated with obesity in this population. Poor sleep patterns are both a predictor and a consequence of obesity-related mental health issues. Socio-cultural factors play a crucial role in shaping students' perceptions of body image and mental health.
These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive approaches to address the intertwined nature of obesity and mental health in this population, necessitating targeted interventions and further research efforts.
饮食习惯、生活方式选择、社会经济地位、文化态度、学术压力以及获得心理健康支持服务的机会等多种因素都会影响海湾合作委员会（GCC）国家大学生肥胖与心理健康之间的关系。了解这些复杂的相互作用对于制定有效的干预措施以促进该地区学生身心健康至关重要。因此，本系统综述旨在了解与 GCC 国家大学生肥胖与心理健康之间关系相关的变量。
本系统综述方案已在国际前瞻性系统评价登记处（PROSPERO）[CRD42024517806]注册。我们使用电子数据库（包括 PubMed、PsycINFO、Scopus、CINAHL、Web of Science 和 Google Scholar）进行了系统文献检索，以确定截至 2024 年 2 月 28 日发表的相关研究。采用叙述性综合方法总结纳入研究的结果。根据与 GCC 国家大学生肥胖与心理健康之间关系相关的变量预先设定的主题对数据进行综合。
GCC 国家大学生超重和肥胖的患病率令人震惊地高，平均比率为 29.4%。在该人群中，抑郁、焦虑和身体形象不满与肥胖显著相关。不良的睡眠模式既是肥胖相关心理健康问题的预测因素，也是其后果。社会文化因素在塑造学生对身体形象和心理健康的看法方面起着至关重要的作用。
这些发现强调了在该人群中综合处理肥胖和心理健康相互交织性质的重要性，需要有针对性的干预措施和进一步的研究努力。
