Assessment of disordered eating attitudes and associated factors among female undergraduates at Arba Minch University, Southern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders significantly impact physical health and have negative psychosocial consequences. The global burden of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa among young females is estimated to account for 1.9 million disability-adjusted life years. Early identification of disordered eating attitudes is critical for preventing the progression to more severe forms of eating disorders; however, there is limited evidence on this issue among university students in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess disordered eating attitudes and their associated factors among female students at Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia, in 2023.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Arba Minch University from January 1, 2023, to April 1, 2023. A total of 600 female students participated in the study, selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, entered into Epi-Info version 7, and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with disordered eating attitudes, with variables having p-values <0.05 considered statistically significant. The strength and presence of associations between the outcome variable and independent variables were measured using adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Model fitness was assessed using the Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test.

RESULTS

The study found that the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes among female students at Arba Minch University was 11.5% (95% CI: 9.0-14.3). Factors significantly associated with disordered eating attitudes included academic department (AOR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.06-4.86) and body mass index (AOR=5.83, 95% CI: 2.34-14.52).

CONCLUSION

The study indicated a notable prevalence of disordered eating attitudes among female students at Arba Minch University. Body mass index and academic department were found to be significantly associated with these attitudes. The link between disordered eating and body image concerns underscores the need for policies promoting self-confidence and positive body image. More specifically, university health services should implement routine screening using EAT-26, combined with psychological counseling services to support at-risk students.