Eating Behaviour among University Students: Relationships with Age, Socioeconomic Status, Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, Waist-to-Height Ratio and Social Desirability

Abstract

Eating behaviour is of particular interest for research focusing on body weight status. However, little is known about the relationships of certain factors, especially social desirability, with self-reported eating behaviour such as cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating among young adult males and females. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between eating behaviour and age, socioeconomic status (SES), physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and social desirability among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 353 university students (59.2% females). Eating behaviour was assessed using the 13-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-13). SES and PA were determined using self-reporting, and the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale assessed social desirability. BMI and WHtR were calculated based on measured parameters. Associations between self-reported eating behaviour and other variables were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multivariate general linear models. Cognitive restraint was positively correlated with BMI and WHtR in both males (r = 0.174, P = 0.036 and r = 0.194, P = 0.020, respectively) and females (r = 0.239, P < 0.001 and r = 0.165, P = 0.017, respectively), and emotional eating was positively correlated with BMI among females (r = 0.184, P = 0.008). Social desirability was negatively correlated with uncontrolled eating (r = −0.287, P < 0.001) and emotional eating (r = −0.301, P < 0.001) among females. There were no significant correlations between eating behaviour and age or socioeconomic status (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that, among males, PA had a main effect on emotional eating (ηp2 = 0.044, F = 6.276, P = 0.013). Among females, cognitive restraint was positively associated with PA (ηp2 = 0.034, F = 7.127, P = 0.008) and BMI (ηp2 = 0.038, F = 7.959, P = 0.005), and emotional eating with BMI (ηp2 = 0.032, F = 6.638, P = 0.011). Social desirability had the highest main effect on eating behaviour among females, being negatively associated with uncontrolled eating (ηp2 = 0.077, F = 16.754, P < 0.001) and emotional eating (ηp2 = 0.082, F = 18.046, P < 0.001). This study showed that PA, BMI, WHtR, and social desirability were associated with self-reported eating behaviour among university students. Social desirability bias should be considered when evaluating uncontrolled eating and emotional eating among females.

Current Status and Influencing Factors of Eating Behavior in Residents at the Age of 18~60: A Cross-Sectional Study in China

“…Females tended to have a higher EBS-SF score, which was more significant in Eastern China in the stepwise regression stratified by region. Other studies found that emotional eating and uncontrolled eating were positively correlated in females and that women were much more vulnerable to various eating disorders, which was consistent with our results [50][51][52][53]. Therefore, females are supposed to pay more attention to healthy eating behavior.…”

“…The residents aged 26-35 in the central region were more likely to have higher EBS-SF scores in this study. The younger residents may behave worse in eating because of lower inhibitory control, higher reward sensitivity, and higher pleasure-seeking, as it was shown in the research that young adults starting independent life were more vulnerable to developing unhealthy eating habits [51,56]. A study showed that older people would consume more fruits and vegetables than younger adults, and consume more fruits and vegetables instead of high-fat food, which was beneficial to health [57].…”

Eating Behaviors, Depressive Symptoms and Lifestyle in University Students in Poland

“…A few interesting studies in young Poles have recently been published, including papers on eating behaviors among university students [ 25 ], eating habits and body composition of young Poles [ 26 ], and international studies on eating disorders, involving Polish samples [ 27 , 28 ]. However, the current body of evidence in the field of eating behaviors, diet, and physical activity among emerging adults in Poland and Central Europe is still scarce and more data are needed to develop preventive strategies.…”

Perception of the Body Image in Women after Childbirth and the Specific Determinants of Their Eating Behavior: Cross-Sectional Study (Silesia, Poland)

“…Similarly, studies by other authors highlight changes in women’s body image associated with increased BMI as a factor of restrictive, non-physiological dietary changes aimed at excessive weight reduction after pregnancy instead of implementing a balanced dietary model with reduced stressors before and during pregnancy. Body mass index is a predictor for the patho-mechanism of eating relationship disorders translating into perceived body image in extreme clinical cases of dysmorphophobia among postpartum women [ 35 , 36 , 37 ].…”