Evaluation of Muscularity-Focused Eating Disorder and Related Factors in Male University Students

Abstract

Eating disorders are a common public health problem in adolescents. However, studies have generally focused on female adolescents and eating disorders in males have been relatively less researched. This study aimed to examine the risk of muscularity-oriented eating disorders in male university students and the factors associated with this condition. The study was conducted with 601 male university students studying at a state university in Turkey. The students' demographic data were recorded, and anthropometric measurements were taken. This study utilized the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) to determine the desire to be muscular, the Eating Disorders Screening Tool (SCOFF) to detect eating disorders, the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET-TR) to specify muscularity-oriented eating disorders, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-Short Form) to identify physical activity status. The mean MOET score of the students was 0.79 ± 0.76 and the mean IPAQ score was 36.48 ± 0.57. It was inferred that the physical activity levels of the students increased as their MOET and DMS scores increased. Also, there was a positive linear relationship between MOET scores and body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist, hip and upper middle arm circumference measurements. In conclusion, it was observed that male university students have a high risk of muscularity drive and muscularity-oriented eating disorder, and this affects physical activity level and anthropometric measurements. For this reason, it is thought that muscularity-focused eating disorder should be focused on and awareness should be raised especially in men.

Keywords

• Drive for muscularity
• Muscularity-focused eating disorder
• Eating disorders
• Male students

Erkek Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Kaslılık Odaklı Yeme Bozukluğu ve İlgili Faktörlerin Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Yeme bozuklukları adölesanlarda yaygın bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Ancak, bu konuda yürütülen çalışmaların genellikle kız adölesanlara odaklandığı ve erkeklerdeki yeme bozukluklarının nispeten daha az araştırıldığı göze çarpmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, erkek üniversite öğrencilerinde kaslılık odaklı yeme bozukluğu riski ve bu durumla ilişkili faktörlerin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma Türkiye’de bir devlet üniversitesinde öğrenim gören 601 erkek üniversite öğrencisi ile yürütülmüştür. Öğrencilerin demografik verileri kaydedilmiş ve antropometrik ölçümleri alınmıştır. Bireylerin kaslı olma isteklerini belirlemek için Kaslı Olma Dürtüsü Ölçeği (KODÖ), yeme bozukluklarını saptamak için Yeme Bozuklukları Ölçeği (REZZY), kaslılık odaklı yeme bozukluklarını saptamak için Kaslılık Odaklı Yeme Testi (MOET-TR), fiziksel aktivite durumlarını belirlemek için Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Formu (IPAQ-Kısa Form) ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Öğrencilerin MOET puanı ortalaması 0.79±0.76, KODÖ puan ortalaması ise 36.48 ± 0.57 olarak belirlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin MOET ve KODÖ puanları arttıkça fiziksel aktivite seviyelerinin arttığı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca MOET puanları ile BKİ, bel çevresi, kalça çevresi, vücut ağırlığı ve ÜOKÇ ölçümleri arasında pozitif doğrusal ilişki olduğu belirlenmiştir. Erkek üniversite öğrencilerinde kaslı olma dürtüsü ve kaslılık odaklı yeme bozukluğu riskinin yüksek olduğu ve bu durumun fiziksel aktivite seviyesini ve antropometrik ölçümleri etkilediği görülmüştür. Bu sebeple literatürde nispeten yeni bir yeme bozukluğu olarak karşımıza çıkan kaslılık odaklı yeme bozukluğuna odaklanılması ve özellikle erkeklerde bu konuya yönelik farkındalık oluşturulması gerektiği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kaslı olma dürtüsü
• Kaslılık odaklı yeme bozukluğu
• Yeme bozuklukları
• Erkek öğrenciler

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