Disordered eating attitude and associated factors among high school adolescents aged 12–19 years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Background

Eating disorders are very complex, frequently developed and have a public health impact on adolescents. Different studies revealed that eating disorders is a pressing public health problem among adolescents. Eating disorders may also lead to mortality due to their physiological sequelae. There is no previous study regarding disordered of eating attitude in Ethiopian adolescents. Therefore, this study aimed to assess prevalence of disordered eating attitude and its associated factors among adolescents in Addis Ababa high schools.

Methods

A school-based cross sectional study was conducted. Data were collected among 836 high school adolescents aged 12–19 years from May to June, 2015 in Addis Ababa city. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaire containing eating attitudes test-26 items (EAT-26) and socio-demographic factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with disordered eating attitude. Both crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio were calculated to show the strength of association. In multivariable analysis, variables with a P value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of disordered eating attitude among adolescents was 8.6% [95% CI 4.9, 12.3]. Being female [AOR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.03, 3.00], Mother’s educational status (Primary [AOR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.11, 0.78], Certificate/diploma [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.07, 0.58] and first degree and above [AOR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.07, 0.40]) were found to be significantly associated with disordered eating attitude.

Conclusion

The finding of this study revealed that a significant number of adolescents were susceptible to developing disordered eating attitude. Being female and Mothers’ education status were significantly associated with disordered eating attitude among adolescents. Provision of screening test for eating disorders focusing on female adolescents is highly recommended.

Adolescence is an intense anabolic period when requirements for all nutrients increase noticeably [1, 2]. Adolescents frequently develop eating disorders and have major public health impact [3]. Eating disorders refer to a variety of psychological illnesses associated with significant disturbances in eating attitudes and behaviors, such as eating extremely small or large amounts of food [4]. Adolescents with eating disorder have high risk to develop consequences, such as anxiety disorder, cardiovascular symptoms, chronic fatigue and pain, depressive disorder, limitation in activity related to poor health, infectious diseases, insomnia, neurological symptoms, and suicidal attempts in their early adulthood [5]. Moreover, 20% of people with an eating disorder diagnosis die from their physiological sequelae [6]. Accordingly, early diagnosis and primary prevention of eating disorders, by improving self-esteem, body image and empowerment of eating attitudes can be an important solution [7].

Nonetheless, according to different studies the prevalence of disordered eating attitude has been widely documented: in Northern Israel 5% of boys and 20.8% of girls [8], Northwest Iran 24.2% [9], Tabriz City 16.7% [10], Singapore 10.5% [11], Brazil 15.76% [12], Indian 26.67% [13], Jeddah 32.9% [14] and South Africa 21.2% [15] of studied adolescents had disordered eating attitude.

Also various factors associated with disordered eating attitude have been identified in various settings. Based on literature review, the following were some of the most prominent factors that associated with disordered eating attitude: Female gender has been associated strongly with the occurrence of disordered eating attitude [16]. Peer influences, especially girls may learn attitudes and behaviors from their peers, such as the importance of being thin and dieting behaviors, through modeling, teasing, and conversations about body image and eating [18]. Besides, adolescents frequently reading magazines (Reading at least weekly) and listening to radio programs (listening more than 1 h per day) were risk for disordered eating attitude [18, 19]. High body mass index or excess weight versus normal weight was associated with an increased risk of developing disordered eating attitude [13, 14, 20]. Concerning to parents’ socio-demographic factors; fathers’ occupation (unemployed father) [8], Marital status of parents (not married) [17] and low mothers education level [11] were some important factors increasing risk of disordered eating attitude. Comments and cultural ideas regarding appearance, such as thin or muscular ideal were additional factors in the risk of disordered eating attitude [18].

There is no any study who addresses the level of disordered eating attitude in Ethiopia. Besides, there is no strategies and programs concerning disordered eating attitude in Ethiopian adolescents. This study will be the first of its kind in addressing the prevalence and associated factors of disordered eating attitude among adolescents of Addis Ababa high schools.

Study setting and design

Cross sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2015 in Addis Ababa high schools. Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia with an area of 530 km² and a total population of 3 million. Also Addis Ababa city administration is divided into ten administrative sub-cities.

Study participants and sampling procedure

All high school adolescents aged 12–19 years who attended high schools in Addis Ababa were included in the study. To estimate disordered eating attitude among adolescents aged 12–19 years, sample size was calculated using Epi-info version 3.7 by considering the following assumptions; 50% prevalence of expected disordered eating attitude since there was no previous study conducted in the country, 95% level of confidence, 5% margin of error, 10% non-response rate and a design effect of 2. Thus, a minimum sample size of 847 was obtained.

Regarding to sampling technique, firstly two sub cities (Arada and Gullele) were selected randomly using lottery method among ten Sub cities of Addis Ababa. Then, two schools, Lideta catholic cathedral high school with a total number of 1679 students from Arada and Dileber high school with a total number of 1267 students from Gullele sub city were schools selected by randomly. The sampling frame of students in each of the grade level and section was obtained from the academic director offices of schools.

Lastly, students were selected from each school and grade level (9–12) using a systematic sampling technique after identifying an initial starting student by use of a random number. The sample sizes were distributed to each grade and section proportionally according to the class size of the grade level. Adolescents in the selected grade level were further selected and given self-administrated questionnaires.

Data collection tools and procedure

Data were collected using structured, pretested, and self- administered questionnaire to obtain socio-demographic information and disordered eating attitude. The questionnaire was first translated from English to Amharic and retranslated back to English by language experts to maintain its consistency. Final the questionnaire was administered in Amharic for data collection. Five data collectors and two field supervisors were recruited for the study. One day exhaustive training regarding the objective of the study, confidentiality of information, and data collection techniques was given to data collectors and supervisors. The questionnaire was piloted on 5% (42) school adolescents out of the study area. During pre-test, the acceptability and applicability of the procedures and tools were evaluated. All filled questioners were checked for completeness, accuracy and consistency by the supervisor and the primary investigator.

Operational definitions and study variables

The outcome variable of the study was disordered eating attitude. Eating attitude was determined by using eating attitude test-26 (EAT-26) items which were grouped into three factors from subscales [21]. Factor I is ‘dieting’ with 13 subscales; “example, terrified of being overweight”, Factor II is ‘bulimia and food preoccupation’ with six subscales; “example, find myself preoccupied with food” and Factor III is ‘oral control’ with seven subscales; “example, avoid eating when I am hungry. For all items except #26, each of the responses receives the following value (six-point scale from ‘always’ to ‘never’): with 3 points to ‘always’, 2 points to ‘very often’, 1 point to ‘often’, and 0 points to ‘sometimes, rarely and never’. Thus, eating attitude was computed with a maximum score of seventy-eight (78). The EAT-26 scores of 20 or higher defined as disordered eating attitude (unfavorable eating attitude) and below 20 perceived as favorable eating attitude.

Independent variables

The independent variables incorporated in the study were: socio demographic characteristics, environmental influences (parental influence, peer pressure and media) and nutritional status.

Data analysis

Data was checked, coded and entered to Epi-info version 7 and was exported to SPSS (Statistical Package for Social science) version 20 for analysis. Reliability analysis was performed to ensure that items with in each factor were consistent. Internal consistency was checked by calculating Cronbach’s alpha for each of the items to examine the extent to which adolescents answered consistently to the items in each of the three factors. Descriptive and analytical statistics including bivariate and multivariate analysis was employed. All variables with a P value of less than 0.2 in bivariate analysis were entered to multivariate analysis to control the possible effect of confounders. Both crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) were estimated to show the strength of association. In multivariate analysis, variables with a P value of ≤0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Socio-demographic characteristics of participants

A total of 836 adolescents aged 12–19 were enrolled in the study with the response rate of 98.6%. The mean age (±SD) of students was 16.48 (±1.37) with two-third (66.1%) in the age group of 16–18 years. More than half (56.6%) of the study participants were females. Regarding the ethnicity of the respondent’s majority (43.9%) was Amhara. About three-fourth 76.1 and 74.2% respondents were Orthodox Christian followers and attended their education in private school, respectively. Vast majority of (87.2%) of the adolescents were living with their family. Three hundred seventy-five (44.86%) participants were grade 9 (Table 1).

Prevalence of disordered eating attitude

The Mean (±SD) score of EAT-26 was 9.1 ± 7.49. Besides, the Mean (±SD) score of EAT-26 subgroups, i.e., Dieting, Bulimia and Food Preoccupation, and Oral Control were 5.31 ± 0.82, 1.30 ± 0.63 and 2.54 ± 0.81, respectively. The results of the study revealed that 8.6% [95% CI 4.9, 12.3] of the students had disordered eating attitude. The prevalence of disordered eating attitude was higher in female adolescents 50 (5.98%) (P = 0.04) as compared with male adolescents 22 (2.62%). About 8.7 and 4.2% of adolescents was for “I Am terrified about being overweight” always and very often, respectively. Only 1.3 and 1.2% of adolescents was for “Have the urge to vomit after meals” always and very often, respectively. Besides, 7.3 and 4.3% of adolescents was for “I am preoccupied with the thought with of having fat on my body” always and very often, respectively (Table 2).

Factors associated with disordered eating attitude

In bivariate analysis sex, age, mothers education, mothers occupation, fathers occupation, school type and body mass index were found with a p value of less than 0.2.

However, the result of multivariate analysis showed that student’s sex and mother’s education were independently and significantly associated with disordered eating attitude. There was a significant negative association between mother’s education and the adolescents’ disordered eating attitude. The odds of developing disordered eating attitude was lower in adolescents from parents with primary and secondary school [AOR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.11, 0.78], certificate/diploma [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.07, 0.58] and degree [AOR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.07, 0.40] was lower as compared with adolescents from parents with no schooling. However, the odds of eating disorder was 1.75 times higher among female adolescents as compared to males [AOR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.03, 3.00] (Table 3).

The results of the current study demonstrated that 8.6% [95% CI 4.9, 12.3] of the students had unfavorable eating attitudes. This finding was harmonious with a study conducted in Singapore 10.5% [11]. However, the finding was lower than the results of previous studies; in Northern Israel 5% of boys and 20.8% of girls [8], Northwest Iran 24.2% [9], Tabriz City 16.7% [10], Brazil 15.76% [12], Indian 26.67% [13] and South Africa 21.2% [15]. This observed discrepancy could be due to socio-demographic and cultural variations in the study areas. Moreover, measures used to assess disordered eating attitudes may also be the possible explanations for the observed variations. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity may be another important reason for high prevalence of eating attitude disorders in Israel, Brazil and South Africa. Difference in media exposure and feeding habit could also be the possible explanation for the observed differences [18, 19].

In the current study, those adolescents from educated parents were less likely to develop unfavorable eating attitude. This result was similar with the study finding in Singapore, which revealed that the students with disordered eating attitudes were less likely to have parents with higher education [11]. This might be due to the fact that those from educated family will have right information about the consequences of eating disorders and immune from developing favorable attitude towards eating attitude disorders. However, this finding is not consistent with a study done in China were adolescents with educated parents showed disordered eating attitudes [22]. This might be due to the fact that double burden of malnutrition in becoming common in china and those from well doing family had high chance of developing obesity which further contributes to the development of disordered attitude towards diet in adolescents. The current study revealed that female Adolescents were 1.75 times more likely to have eating attitude disorders compared to their male counterparts. This result supported with other findings [16, 22]. Female are more concerned about their body image which may lead to development of eating attitude disorders. The Cultural pressures that glorify thinness and narrow definitions of beauty that include only girls of specific body weights and shapes has significant implication on development of eating disorders in girls. Media is the most suitable source for health related information for adolescent girls. However, the messages from this media my promote thinness as good indicator of girls beauty and acceptance.

As no prior study in the country, the prevalence of our study publicized to be more adolescents was susceptible to eating disorders. Mothers’ educational status and sex of adolescents were found to be important predictor of developing eating attitude disorders among high school adolescents. Provision of early screening and timely treatment of female adolescents with eating attitude disorders is highly recommended. Further research is needed to develop intervention programs to control eating disorders among Ethiopian adolescents.

AOR:

adjusted odds ratio

EAT-26:

eating attitude test-26

CI:

confidence interval

COR:

crude odds ratio

SD:

standard deviation

SPSS:

statistical package for social science

Conceived and designed the experiments: BY, YAG, MMW, TD. Performed the experiments: BY, YAG, MMW, TD. Analyzed the data: TD, MMW, YAG. Wrote the paper: TD, MMW, BY. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank students for their willingness to participate in the study. The authors appreciation will also go to the university of Gondar for provision of financial support.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Availability of data and materials

The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article is included within the article.

Consent for publication

Consent to publish was obtained from the study subjects aged 18 years and above. Moreover, consent to publish was obtained from their parents for those students aged less than 18 years.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional review board of Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar. Permission was obtained from Arada and Gullele sub cities Education Office and respective school directors. Informed consent was obtained from each study subjects aged 18 or above. Besides, Parental written consent and assent from participants were asked for student’s aged less than 18 years. Respondents were also informed that they could refuse or discontinue participation at any time. Information was recorded anonymously to maintain confidentiality and privacy of respondent.

Affiliations

1. Department of Human Nutrition, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

   • Belachew Yirga
   • , Terefe Derso
   •  & Molla Mesele Wassie

2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

   • Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Molla Mesele Wassie.

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