Eating Disorders: Lifestyle and Health Among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline.

Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2012 Aug; 9(8): 2728-41
Varela-Mato V, Cancela JM, Ayan C, Martín V, Molina A

Today the need to analyze health behaviour from a gender perspective is as imminent as ever, particularly at university, where the number of women who register is on the rise and has exceeded the number of male students worldwide. We carried out a prevalence study aimed at analyzing Spanish university students’ lifestyles and identify differences according to gender and academic discipline. Of 3,646 eligible subjects doing university courses related to health (Group A), education (Group B) and other professions (Group C), 985 (27.0%) participated in the study. Information was elicited about their physical activity level, disturbed eating attitudes, consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances. Prevalence and Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated according to sex and kind of academic discipline. The obtained data confirmed that only 27.4% of the students were considered as sufficiently active, while 14.9% of them suffered from disturbed eating attitudes (DEA). Women were particularly less active (OR 0.46 (0.32-0.66); p < 0.0001), and more sedentary than men (OR 1.40 (1.00-1.97); p = 0.03). Binge drinking was more frequent in female than in male students (OR 1.79 (1.29-2.47); p = 0.0004). A third of the analyzed sample admitted that they had used illegal substances, while a lower consumption prevalence was found in women (OR 0.53 (0.40-0.71); p < 0.0001). The studied population was not very active (27.4%), especially women (OR = 0.45). Therefore, it seems that Spanish university students lead an unhealthy lifestyle, a situation which seems more conspicuous amongst females. HubMed – eating

Identification of the appropriate boundary size to use when measuring the food retail environment surrounding schools.

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2012 Aug; 9(8): 2715-27
Seliske L, Pickett W, Rosu A, Janssen I

This study included 6,971 students in grades 9 and 10 (ages 13 to 16 years) from 158schools who participated in the 2009/2010 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study. Students provided information on where they typically ate lunch. The number of food retailers was obtained for six road network buffer sizes (500, 750, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 5,000 meters) surrounding schools. Associations between the presence of food retailers near schools and students’ lunchtime eating behaviours were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Comparisons of model fit statistics indicated that the 1,000 m buffer provided the best fit. At this distance, students with ?3 food retailers near their schools had a 3.42 times greater relative odds (95% CI: 2.12-5.52) of eating their lunchtime meal at a food retailer compared to students with no nearby food retailers. Students who had ?2 food retailers within 750 m of their schools had a 2.74 times greater relative odds (95% CI: 1.75-4.29), while those who had ?1 food retailer within 500 m of their schools had 2.27 times greater relative odds of eating at food retailer (95% CI: 1.46-3.52) compared to those with no nearby food retailers. For distances greater than 1,000 m, no consistent relationships were found.
HubMed – eating

Do adolescents who live or go to school near fast-food restaurants eat more frequently from fast-food restaurants?

Filed under: Eating Disorders

Health Place. 2012 Sep 15; 18(6): 1261-1269
Forsyth A, Wall M, Larson N, Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D

This population-based study examined whether residential or school neighborhood access to fast food restaurants is related to adolescents’ eating frequency of fast food. A classroom-based survey of racially/ethnically diverse adolescents (n=2724) in 20 secondary schools in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota was used to assess eating frequency at five types of fast food restaurants. Black, Hispanic, and Native American adolescents lived near more fast food restaurants than white and Asian adolescents and also ate at fast food restaurants more often. After controlling for individual-level socio-demographics, adolescent males living near high numbers fast food restaurants ate more frequently from these venues compared to their peers.
HubMed – eating

Under Pressure: Teen Body Image and Eating Disorders – In this show we focus on body image and eating disorders. We will cover the effects of anorexia, bulimia, and how outside influences can change how we think about our bodies. Eating Disorders are about more than just food and weight loss. It is a serious disorder that affects the mind and creates an obsession with appearance. Recovery from an eating disorder is possible. Counseling, medical treatment, and nutritional advice will help you regain control of your life. Produced by Burbank’s Teens In Action Media Team

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