Food behavior, nutritional status and body dissatisfaction of university students in the health area

Introduction: The dissatisfaction indices with the body image and the continuous increase of the eating disorders rates (ED) reveal rising in consequence of the beauty standards imposed by society. In addition, the nutritional status might be directly associated with the presence of ED development risk. Objective: To evaluate the eating behaviour and verify its association with the nutritional status and body dissatisfaction of university students in the health area. Materials and methods: Quantitative cross-sectional study from online application of the questionnaire EAT-26, which evaluates the ED development risk and the Silhouette Scales, as well as weight and height data for the nutritional status evaluation. Results: 223 university students were evaluated in the health area, being 88,8% female members, with an average age of 23,6 +/- 5,1 years old. It was verified that 63,7% of the university students have not submitted ED risk. The prevalence of dissatisfied university students by overweight was 61,9% and by thinness dissatisfaction 3,6%. Related to the nutritional status, 70% are in the eutrophia, however, it is verified a relevant percentage of 26% of overweight. There was a significant association with ED development risk and body dissatisfaction in students with overweight. Conclusion: It was observed the association between the presence of ED risk and body dissatisfaction with university students' nutritional status. Therefore, the importance of the adoption of eating behaviour educational practices in this sample must be stressed, allowing the ED risk reduction and its complications.