Eating Disorders and Stress Positively Correlated with Body Mass Index in Adolescents at Attaqwa 02 Tarumajaya Middle School

eating disorder body perception stress score Body Mass Index

Authors

30 June 2024
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Background: Poor body perceptions may cause stress that leads to an increased risk of eating disorders that subsequently affect nutritional status. However, this relationship in adolescents is still hardly explored.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between eating disorders, body perception, stress scores, and body mass index in adolescents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 33 teenagers aged 13-16 years at Attaqwa 02 Tarumajaya Middle School who were drawn using stratified random sampling. Eating disorders, body perception, and stress score were assessed by the Eating Atittude Test-40, Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questioner Appearance Scale, and a modified Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-42, respectively. Body mass index for age z-score (BAZ) was generated from anthropometric measurements. Relationships were tested by Pearson and Partial correlations.

Results: More than half of the respondents were boys (51.5%). Eating disorders (r= 0.399) and stress scores (r= 0.539) were significantly and positively associated with BAZ in adolescents. The relationship remains significant although a bit attenuated after adjusted by age (r= 0.375; r= 0.562) and gender (r= 0.388; r= 0.516). No association was found between body perception and BAZ (r= -0.027). After adjusting by age (r= -0.107) and gender (r= -0.052) the association remained insignificant.

Conclusions: Eating disorders and stress scores correlated significantly with body mass index z-score in adolescents. Health and nutrition promotion to prevent eating disorders and stress should be encouraged to reduce the risk of obesity in adolescents.