A Cross-sectional Study on Eating Disorders among Female Undergraduates in a Nigerian University: Implications for Online Nutritional Interventions

摘要

Eating disorder is a serious public health issue linked to diabetes. Research suggests a high rate of co-morbidity of eating disorders and diabetes with resultant rise in morbidity linked to poor glycemic control as a key causative factor for individuals with this co-occurrence. This study aimed at investigation of issues concerning eating disorders among female undergraduates in a Nigerian University. This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey study. Purposive random sampling was used to select second year female undergraduates from one of the country's oldest public university - University of Nigeria. There was a population of 4,561 second year female undergraduates officially residing in both campuses of the selected University as of the time of the study. A total of 456 female undergraduates were sampled for the study. The data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, and the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using Student t-test statistics. Results show that social, financial and health problems were associated with eating disorders among the female undergraduates. The respondents agreed that some ways of enhancing healthy eating behaviors included talking it over with parents/lecturers/counselor, improving eating plan, and restoring lost weight among others. No significance differences were found in the mean ratings of the respondents on the social, financial and health problems associated with eating disorders as well as on the strategies for enhancing healthy eating behaviors. Therefore, female undergraduates should be urged to avoid skipping breakfast and stick to a regular eating schedule. The implications for online nutritional education are discussed.