Eating Disorder Risk among Medical Students at Tanta University, Egypt

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex psychiatric syndromes that occur with increasing frequency among adolescents of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. They are considered as the third most common chronic illness in adolescent females, with an incidence of up to 5%. Severe clinical complications can take place especially compromised nutritional status due to the delay in diagnosis or treatment. Objective: This study aimed to find out the prevalence of risk for eating disorders and its associated factors among medical students, Tanta University, Egypt. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out through the first semester of the year 2018-2019 and included 615students.Data were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire which included personal and sociodemographic data, family and medical histories and a self-administered questionnaire of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Results: About one third (33.0%) of the studied students were at risk for eating disorder. EDs Risk was more common among students in the clinical stage compared to the pre-clinical stage. Also, unmarried, those with higher BMI and those practicing regular physical activity were at more risk (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A considerable proportion of medical students are at greater risk of eating disorders. Special programs are needed for managing this potential problem for the sake of future physicians and their patients.