Disordered Eating Attitudes Among University Students in Kuwait: The Role of Gender and Obesity

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to highlight the proportion of disordered eating attitudes among university students in Kuwait by gender and obesity.

Methods: A sample of 530 Kuwaiti university students was selected from four universities in Kuwait (203 men and 327 women). The eating attitudes test‑26 was used to determine disordered eating attitudes.

Results: The prevalence of disordered eating attitudes was 31.8% and 33.6% among men and women respectively. Obese students of both genders had doubled the risk of disordered eating attitudes compared to nonobese students (odds ratio 1.99 and 1.98, respectively).

Conclusions: About one third of university students in Kuwait had disordered eating attitudes. There is an urgent need to prevent and treat disordered eating attitudes in university students in Kuwait.

Keywords: Arab, eating disorders, obesity, university students