Disordered Eating Attitude and Associated Factors among University Students in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Abstract

Background: There have been no studies on the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes (DEAs) in Mongolia. This study aims to determine the prevalence of DEAs and the associated risk factors among university students in Ulaan-baatar, Mongolia. Methods: In 2016, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 483 female students studying at School of Nursing, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences in Ulaanbaatar. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to determine the prevalence of DEAs among the students. Body height and weight measurements were collected by team members after obtaining participants' consent. SPSS version 25 was used for statistical analyses. Chi-square, Fisher' s exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze ordinal and numeric values. Results: In this study 5.4% of the participants presented high score on EAT-26. Through multivariate logistic regression analysis, the number of breakfasts per week, perception of healthy meals, and previous and present dieting were found to be associated with a high score on the EAT-26. Conclusions: The prevalence of DEA is relatively low among Mongolian female students. The number of breakfasts per week, past and current experience of dieting, and perception of healthy meals were influential factors in the development of DEAs.