Speed Eating Is Associated with Poor Mental Health Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine whether mental health status contributes to speed eating in adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

This study enrolled 106 subjects (53 males and 53 females), ranging in age from 12 to 24 years. After a self-administered lifestyle questionnaire and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were administered, a swallowing threshold test was performed. The swallowing threshold was determined based on the concentration of dissolved glucose obtained from the gummy jellies. Low swallowing threshold was characterized by glucose levels falling within the bottom 20th percentile. GHQ-12 was categorized into poor (score 4-12) and normal (score 0-3). Following the univariate analysis, a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors linked to a low swallowing threshold.

RESULTS

Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with a low swallowing threshold included poor mental health (odds ratio [OR] = 8.47, = 0.007, confidence interval [CI] = 2.437-32.934) and no physical activity (OR = 5.604, = 0.008, CI = 1.562-22.675).

CONCLUSIONS

Speed eating is closely associated with risk behaviors for poor mental health in adolescents and young adults.