Eating disorders: Prevalence in the student population of Mysore, South India

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (ED), once known to be a rarity are now commonplace all over the world. However, studies on ED in the Indian population are still very rare to come across. AIM: We made an attempt to study the prevalence of ED in the student population of Mysore, South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1600 students aged 15–25 years and residing in Mysore were surveyed using two standardized questionnaires. Among the 417 students who scored higher in the questionnaires, 35 students were recruited as participants. Another 35 students with low scores were considered controls. A series of anthropometric measurements were conducted along with the establishment of a register on their well-being and family history. Hemoglobin (Hb) content was measured using a Hb test kit from Beacon Diagnostics Pvt., Ltd., India. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 14.01 software utilizing analysis of variance tool. RESULTS: It was found that 26.06% of participants were prone to ED due to their abnormal eating attitudes. We also observed significant differences between the controls and participants in relation to various parameters such as weight, waist and hip circumferences, body mass index, basal metabolic rate, fat percentage. Hb content was normal in both controls and participants. The establishment of the register also revealed that the onset of menstruation differed significantly between the controls and participants. CONCLUSIONS: We arrived at the conclusion that ED are definitely prevailing among the students of Karnataka and have a profound effect on the mental and physical health of the students with eating discrepancies.