A Cross-Sectional Study of Body Shape and Eating Attitude among Indian Female Healthcare Students

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed at assessing eating attitude and body shape concerns among Indian female healthcare students who had received some teaching/training in Psychiatry. METHOD: The study was conducted at government medical and nursing college. All the undergraduate healthcare students enrolled with institute at the time of study constituted the sampling frame for the study. Survey-based methodology was used for data collection. Study scales included semi-structured proforma, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) (including the three sub-scales), and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data were analyzed using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation statistics and ANOVA with post hoc analysis. RESULTS: A total of 498 students returned the completed study questionnaire. There was significant correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and EAT-26 scores) including the sub-scales score of EAT-26). Similarly, BMI and BSQ scores were also significantly correlated. DISCUSSION: The findings from current study help understand the body shape and eating attitudes of Indian female healthcare students who had received some teaching/training in Psychiatry.