PD597 - ASSOCIATION OF DIETING/WEIGHT CONCERN WITH BODY COMPOSITION AND EATING BEHAVIOURS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

PD597

ASSOCIATION OF DIETING/WEIGHT CONCERN WITH BODY COMPOSITION AND EATING BEHAVIOURS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

A. Aydin^1,*

¹Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul, Türkiye

Rationale: Dieting and weight concern are common among university students and may influence eating behaviours beyond anthropometric status. This study aimed to examine the associations between dieting/weight concern, body composition, eating attitudes, and intuitive eating.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between February–June 2025 among students aged 18–55 years at Istanbul Okan University (n=137). Data were collected via online questionnaires including the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). Anthropometric measurements (body weight, body composition, height, waist, hip, and neck circumference) were obtained in a laboratory setting. Correlation analyses were performed.

Results: Dieting/weight concern showed weak but significant positive correlations with BMI (r=0.235, p=0.006), hip circumference (r=0.224, p=0.009), fat mass (r=0.182, p=0.033), fat-free mass (r=0.186, p=0.030), and muscle mass (r=0.219, p=0.010). No significant associations were found with neck circumference, body fat percentage, total body water, anxiety, or depression (p>0.05). A very strong positive correlation was observed with EAT-26 (r=0.852, p<0.001), while intuitive eating was negatively associated (r=-0.234, p=0.006).

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Conclusion: Dieting/weight concern was weakly associated with anthropometric measures but strongly related to disordered eating attitudes. The inverse relationship with intuitive eating suggests a potential protective role. These findings highlight the importance of addressing eating behaviours alongside body composition in obesity-related interventions.

References: Amengual-Llofriu, M. A., Tauler, P., & Aguiló, A. (2025). Risk of eating disorders among university students and its association with dieting, weight control behavior and non-substance addictions. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 3822.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared