Eating Competence among Brazilian College Students

Abstract

Eating competence (EC) is a biopsychosocial concept related to a healthier eating pattern. Studies have shown that weight gain and body shape and weight dissatisfaction are typical among college students, contributing to low self-esteem, risky eating behaviors, and a propensity to develop eating disorders. As eating habits are determinant factors for food choices that can be modified by eating behavior, this study aimed to evaluate EC in college students from Brazil, using the Brazilian version of the EC Satter Inventory (ecSI2.0™BR), and EC’s association with health data. This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey spread using the snowball method. The self-report instrument was divided into three parts (socioeconomic and demographic data; health data; and ecSI2.0™BR). Recruitment took place through social networks, and 593 students from public and private universities from all five regions of Brazil participated in the survey. The EC average was 29.46 ± 8.67, and 46.2% of the sample were considered competent eaters. Total EC did not differ among gender and Brazilian region. Younger participants (up to 20 y/o) presented higher scores for total EC, contextual skills and food acceptance. The total EC and contextual skills of health sciences students did not differ from those of students in other areas, except for agricultural sciences in which students had lower total EC. Obese individuals and the participants who perceived themselves to be overweight had low scores for EC. This study confirmed the hypothesis that college students have low EC, causing worse health outcomes related to BMI, perceived body weight, and occurrence of hypertension and dyslipidemia.