Eating behavior styles and factors associated with disordered eating behaviors in early adolescents: cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims: Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors have become a global concern among adolescents. Given that eating behaviors developed during adolescence will determine lifelong adolescent health outcomes, it is important to understand the factors associated with disordered eating behaviors in early adolescents. This study aimed to assess the eating behaviors styles of early adolescents and to determine the relationship between eating behaviors and sociodemographic, lifestyle factors, and dietary patterns. Methods: This cross-sectional was conducted on 700 middle school students aged 10-14 years old. Sociodemographics, dietary, and lifestyle data were collected using a questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were performed. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire Children (DEBQ-C) was used to evaluate adolescents’ restrained, emotional, and external eating styles. Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD). Results: Girls had higher scores in all three eating styles compared to boys. Students with overweight/obese scored higher in restrained, but lower in external and emotional eating style compared to students with normal weight. Students with excessive energy, carbohydrate, and protein intake had higher external eating but lower restrained eating scores than those with low or normal intake. Being female, higher KIDMED score, less screen time, higher BMI z score, higher waist/hip ratio, and body dissatisfaction were positively associated with restrained eating behavior. Being female (β =0.085, p=0.024), screen time < 2 hours (β =-0.086, p =0.027), and BMI z score (β =-0.211, p =<0.001) were found to be significant predictors of external eating behaviors, while being female and older age were associated with emotional eating behaviors among early adolescents. Conclusion: There are differences in early adolescents eating behavior styles based on gender, nutritional status, body dissatisfaction, perceived health, screen time, physical activity status, AMD, and dietary intake.

Keywords

• Eating behaviors
• body image dissatisfaction
• dietary intake
• lifestyles

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