April - June 2013, Volume 9, Issue 2

Mocanu V

Overweight, Obesity and Dieting Attitudes Among College Students in Romania

Acta Endo (Buc) 2013, 9 (2): 241-248
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2013.241

Context. Young adults are increasingly at risk for obesity. Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess the eating attitudes and behaviors, including weight concerns and dieting behavior, among medical college students. Design. This was a case-control study. Material and methods. The sample consisted of 70 undergraduate students from the School of Medicine, 22 males and 48 females, aged 25±6 years. Eating-related behaviors were measured using the EAT-26 questionnaire. Study of food intake and physical activity was conducted using a questionnaire that included anthropometric measures, food frequency and the level of physical activity. We calculated body mass index (BMI) from students self-reported height and weight. Results. Approximately 13% of the students were overweight, and 7% were obese. Another 17% were underweight, and the remainder (63%) were of healthy weight. The results showed that 7% of the students had a positive EAT-26 score (>20) and all were females. On dieting subscale, 16% of college students scored higher; the females who reported excessive dieting attitudes were underweight or of normal weight and males were obese. Our analysis showed that students with dieting behavior report excessive exercising and consuming less cereals and meat and more vegetables as compared to non-dieting behavior group. Conclusions. The results demonstrated that disturbed eating attitudes and unhealthy dieting are common among Romanian college students, especially among females.

Keywords: obesity, college students, dieting, eating disorder, Eating Attitude Test, food frequency.

Correspondence: Mocanu Veronica MD, PhD, “Gr.T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dpt. Pathophysiology, 16th University st., Iasi, 700115, Romania, E-mail: veronica_mocanu@yahoo.com