Quality of life and risk behaviors for eating disorders in university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2025.50.14955Keywords:
quality of life, eating disorders, university studentsAbstract
Eating disorders can lead to numerous health impairments, including poor quality of life. This study aimed to explore the association between quality of life and risk behaviors for eating disorders. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 353 health sciences university students from southern Brazil. Quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF, while risk behaviors for eating disorders were evaluated through the EAT-26. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, and Poisson regression. The mean age of the sample was 25.9 ± 8.2 years, with a median (Med) total quality of life score of 66.3 points (interquartile range [IQR]: 58.6–74.0), and a prevalence of poor quality of life of 28.3% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 23.6–33.0). A lower quality of life score was observed among students with risk behaviors (Med: 63.0; IQR: 52.9–70.2) compared to those without risk behaviors (Med: 67.3; IQR: 60.6–75.0; p=0.002). After adjustment, university students with risk behaviors for eating disorders had a 79% higher probability of experiencing poor quality of life (Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.28–2.50; p=0.001) compared to those without risk behaviors. Thus, the findings of this study indicate a poorer quality of life among university students with risk behaviors for eating disorders.
References
1 Landeiro GM, Pedrozo CC, Gomes MJ, Oliveira ER. [Systematic review of studies on quality of life indexed on the SciELO database]. Cien Saude Colet 2011; 16(10):4257-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-81232011001100031.
2 Harrer M, Adam SH, Messner EM, Baumeister H, Cuijpers P, Bruffaerts R, Auerbach RP, Kessler RC, Jacobi C, Taylor CB, Ebert DD. Prevention of eating disorders at universities: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Eat Disord 2020; 53(6):813-833. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23224.
3 McLean SA, Paxton SJ. Body Image in the Context of Eating Disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2019; 42(1):145-156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2018.10.006.
4 American Psychiatric Association D-. DSM-5: Manual diagnóstico e estatístico de transtornos mentais. Artmed Editora; 2014.
5 Alvarenga Mdos S, Scagliusi FB, Philippi ST. Comparison of eating attitudes among university students from the five Brazilian regions. Cien Saude Colet 2012; 17(2):435-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-81232012000200016.
6 Agh T, Kovacs G, Supina D, Pawaskar M, Herman BK, Voko Z, Sheehan DV. A systematic review of the health-related quality of life and economic burdens of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Eat Weight Disord 2016; 21(3):353-364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-016-0264-x.
7 Oliveira-Cardoso ÉA, Coimbra AC, Santos MA. Qualidade de Vida em Pacientes com Anorexia e Bulimia Nervosa. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa 2018; 34(0). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e34411.
8 Vila-Marti A, Elio I, Sumalla-Cano S. Eating Behavior during First-Year College Students, including Eating Disorders-RUVIC-RUNEAT-TCA Project. Protocol of an Observational Multicentric Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18(18):9457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189457.
9 Tayhan Kartal F, Yabanci Ayhan N. Relationship between eating disorders and internet and smartphone addiction in college students. Eat Weight Disord 2021; 26(6):1853-1862. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01027-x.
10 Fekih-Romdhane F, Daher-Nashif S, Alhuwailah AH, Al Gahtani HMS, Hubail SA, Shuwiekh HAM, Khudhair MF, Alhaj OA, Bragazzi NL, Jahrami H. The prevalence of feeding and eating disorders symptomology in medical students: an updated systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27(6):1991-2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01351-w.
11 Costa DG, Carleto CT, Santos VS, Haas VJ, Goncalves R, Pedrosa LAK. Quality of life and eating attitudes of health care students. Rev Bras Enferm 2018; 71(suppl 4):1642-1649. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0224.
12 Silva WRD, Campos J, Maroco J. Impact of inherent aspects of body image, eating behavior and perceived health competence on quality of life of university students. PLoS One 2018; 13(6):e0199480. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199480.
13 Bighetti F, Tradução e validação do Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) em adolescentes do sexo feminino na cidade de Ribeirão Preto-SP, 2003, Dissertação de Mestrado, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo: Ribeirão Preto.
14 Fleck MP, Louzada S, Xavier M, Chachamovich E, Vieira G, Santos L, Pinzon V. [Application of the Portuguese version of the abbreviated instrument of quality life WHOQOL-bref]. Rev Saude Publica 2000; 34(2):178-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0034-89102000000200012.
15 Silva PA, Soares SM, Santos JF, Silva LB. Cut-off point for WHOQOL-bref as a measure of quality of life of older adults. Rev Saude Publica 2014; 48(3):390-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0034-8910.2014048004912.
16 Silva SM, Santana ANC, Silva N, Novaes M. VES-13 and WHOQOL-bref cutoff points to detect quality of life in older adults in primary health care. Rev Saude Publica 2019; 53:26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11606/S1518-8787.2019053000802.
17 Capp E, Nienov OH. Bioestatística quantitativa aplicada. Disponível em: https://www.lume.ufrgs.br/bitstream/handle/10183/213116/001117616.pdf. 2020.
18 Barros AJ, Hirakata VN. Alternatives for logistic regression in cross-sectional studies: an empirical comparison of models that directly estimate the prevalence ratio. BMC Med Res Methodol 2003; 3(1):21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-3-21.
19 Lanuza F, Morales G, Hidalgo-Rasmussen C, Balboa-Castillo T, Ortiz MS, Belmar C, Munoz S. Association between eating habits and quality of life among Chilean university students. J Am Coll Health 2022; 70(1):280-286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1741593.
20 Tirico PP, Stefano SC, Blay SL. [Quality of life and eating disorders: a systematic review]. Cad Saude Publica 2010; 26(3):431-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-311x2010000300002.
21 Peleias M, Tempski P, Paro HB, Perotta B, Mayer FB, Enns SC, Gannam S, Pereira MAD, Silveira PS, Santos IS, Carvalho CR, Martins MA. Leisure time physical activity and quality of life in medical students: results from a multicentre study. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2017; 3(1):e000213. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000213.
22 Zhang Y, Qu B, Lun S, Wang D, Guo Y, Liu J. Quality of life of medical students in China: a study using the WHOQOL-BREF. PLoS One 2012; 7(11):e49714. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049714.
23 Burnette D, Ye X, Cheng Z, Ruan H. Living alone, social cohesion, and quality of life among older adults in rural and urban China: a conditional process analysis. Int Psychogeriatr 2021; 33(5):469-479. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610220001210.
24 de Matos AP, Rodrigues PRM, Fonseca LB, Ferreira MG, Muraro AP. Prevalence of disordered eating behaviors and associated factors in Brazilian university students. Nutr Health 2021; 27(2):231-241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0260106020971136.
25 Tavolacci MP, Dechelotte P, Ladner J. Eating Disorders among College Students in France: Characteristics, Help-and Care-Seeking. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17(16):5914. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165914.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Context and Health Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Autores que publicam na Revista Contexto & Saúde concordam com os seguintes termos:
a) A submissão de trabalho(s) científico(s) original(is) pelos autores, na qualidade de titulares do direito de autor do(s) texto(s) enviado(s) ao periódico, nos termos da Lei 9.610/98, implica na cessão de direitos autorais de publicação na Revista Contexto e Saúde do(s) artigo(s) aceitos para publicação à Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, autorizando-se, ainda, que o(s) trabalho(s) científico(s) aprovado(s) seja(m) divulgado(s) gratuitamente, sem qualquer tipo de ressarcimento a título de direitos autorais, por meio do site da revista e suas bases de dados de indexação e repositórios, para fins de leitura, impressão e/ou download do arquivo do texto, a partir da data de aceitação para fins de publicação. Isto significa que, ao procederem a submissão do(s) artigo(s) à Revista Contexto e Saúde e, por conseguinte, a cessão gratuita dos direitos autorais relacionados ao trabalho científico enviado, os autores têm plena ciência de que não serão remunerados pela publicação do(s) artigo(s) no periódico.
b). Autores mantém os direitos autorais e concedem à revista o direito de primeira publicação, com o trabalho simultaneamente licenciado sob a Licença Creative Commons Attribution que permite o compartilhamento do trabalho com reconhecimento da autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista.
c). Autores têm autorização para assumir contratos adicionais separadamente, para distribuição não-exclusiva da versão do trabalho publicada nesta revista (ex.: publicar em repositório institucional ou como capítulo de livro), com reconhecimento de autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista.
d). Autores têm permissão e são estimulados a publicar e distribuir seu trabalho online (ex.: em repositórios institucionais ou na sua página pessoal) a qualquer ponto antes ou durante o processo editorial, já que isso pode gerar alterações produtivas, bem como aumentar o impacto e a citação do trabalho publicado (Veja O Efeito do Acesso Livre).
