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Effects of night eating and binge eating disorders on general health in university students in Lebanon

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Abstract

Background

Eating disorders (EDs) have an important impact on both physical and mental wellbeing, especially in a young population. There is a lack in research about EDs in the Middle East, and especially in Lebanon, where the co-occurring obesity is a widespread health problem.

Aim

Our study aims to assess the relation between night eating syndrome (NES) with binge eating disease (BED) and obesity (BMI) on one hand, and between NES and general health on the other hand, in university students.

Materials and methods

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 460 university students in Lebanon. Data collection was carried out using an online questionnaire. Socio-demographic and general health characteristics, BMI, Arabic validated General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Arabic validated Binge Eating Scale (BES) and the Night Eating Diagnostic Questionnaire (NEDQ). Statistical analysis was accomplished on SPSS.

Results

Participants having highest income showed highest NEDQ score. Females and participants with a history of eating disorders were more likely to have BED. A significant correlation was also found between having an ED history and negative impact on general health. BMI was correlated with both NEDQ and BES. Having NES was associated with also having BED. Furthermore, those with NES showed higher scores regarding GHQ-12.

Conclusion

Relatively high prevalence of NES and BED was noted in university students in Lebanon. This was correlated to a household income, general health, and BMI. The repercussion on both physical and mental morbidities highlights the importance for stepping up of the Lebanese organizational system to perform periodic screening.

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Data availability

Data are available upon request from corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Lemir Majed El Ayoubi, Diana Abou Ltaif, Jad El Masri & Pascale Salameh

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Jad El Masri

  3. Faculty of Science, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Jad El Masri

  4. Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Pascale Salameh

  5. INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique Et Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon

    Pascale Salameh

  6. University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Pascale Salameh

Authors
  1. Lemir Majed El Ayoubi
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  2. Diana Abou Ltaif
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  3. Jad El Masri
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  4. Pascale Salameh
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Correspondence to Jad El Masri.

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El Ayoubi, L.M., Abou Ltaif, D., El Masri, J. et al. Effects of night eating and binge eating disorders on general health in university students in Lebanon. Ir J Med Sci 191, 2635–2640 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02904-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02904-9

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