Dynamic developmental trajectory of problem eating behavior among students from one university of Jiangsu Province / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To explore the dynamic developmental trajectory of problem eating behavior among college students, and to provide evidence for the early prevention and intervention of eating problems.@*Methods@#A cluster sample of 5 372 freshmen from a university in Jiangsu Province were included and followed up for 4 years by using the eating behavior problems scale.@*Results@#The problem eating behavior of college students in Jiangsu Province showed a decreasing after increasing trend(5.17±1.36, 5.39± 1.53 , 5.14±1.42, 4.96±1.37)( F =112.12, P <0.01), and prevalence of problem eating behavior was highest among sophomores. The developmental trajectory of eating behavior problems in college students could be divided into slow decreasing (86.7%) and slow increasing (13.3%) groups. In addition, sex specific developmental trajectory of problem eating behavior was observed, with initial mean level and change speed of female students were signicantly higher than that of male students.@*Conclusion@#There are group heterogeneity and sex specific effect in problem eating behavior of college students, which needs specific intervention strategies provided from colleges.