Eating Behavior, Mental Health And Degree Of Physical Activity In Medical Students

Abstract

Medical students have an increased risk of developing psychological and eating disorders due to the academic stress and the degree of physical activity. The stress during the exam session affects eating attitudes, mental health and physical activity. The aim of the study was to analyse the eating behaviors, mental status and grades of physical activity before and during exam session in medical college students.We performed an analytical observational study in a population of 78 undergraduate 1 st and 2 nd year medical students (66 girls and 12 boys). Eating-related attitudes were studied using the EAT-26questionnaire. Anxiety and depression scores were evaluated with GAD7 and PHQ-9 questionnaires.Physical activity was also assessed. All of the questionnaires were given before and during the exam session. The scores of EAT 26 questionnaire reflect a normal reporting of dieting attitudes, regardless of the time of evaluation. Regarding assessment of anxiety (GAD7) and depression (PHQ-9), an increase in the number of cases of severe anxiety and depression during the exams session was shown. In addition, the physical activity index dropped significantly during the exam period. The academic and psychological stress during the exam session affected the mental status of the medical students causing an increase in the anxiety and depressions scores. Also, the physical activity diminished, emphasizing their psychological state. No significant changes in eating behavior were observed.

The Relationship Between Exam Anxiety and Eating Attitudes in Young People Preparing for the Higher Education Institutions Exam: Cross-Sectional Study

“…Sınav öncesi ve sonrası kaygı düzeyi ve beslenme durumunun değerlendirildiği bir çalışmada ise sınav döneminde kaygı düzeyinin arttığı; EAT-26 puanında ise önemli değişiklik olmadığı belirlenmiştir. 31 Bu çalışmada olduğu gibi cinsiyetler arası kaygı düzeyi ve yeme bozukluğu durumlarının karşılaştırıldığı bir çalışmada, kadınların erkeklere göre EAT-26 puanı ve kaygı puanının daha yüksek olduğu bulunmuştur. 32 Elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda, kadınların kaygı düzeyinin erkeklere kıyasla yüksek olmasının kadınlarda daha çok sağlıksız beslenme davranışlarına yol açma potansiyeli olduğu düşünülebilir.…”