A study conducted by a research team from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Arabian Gulf University (AGU) confirmed the importance of psychological support for medical students, especially first-year students, to reduce the incidence of eating disorders and avoid their complications. The study, which was recently published in the Q1 classified Frontiers in Psychology journal, stressed that the high incidence of eating disorders or their complications is largely linked to interaction with global, regional and local stress factors.

The head of the research team, Professor of Clinical Physiology and Head of the Department of Physiology at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dr Yahya Mohamed Naguib, explained that eating disorders are among the most dangerous forms of mental illness and may lead to multiple complications in various body systems. Due to high levels of stress, medical students are more vulnerable to psychological and mental challenges, which may lead to an increased likelihood of developing eating disorders. Social stigma and misinformation, especially in the Middle East, contribute to the problem, as well as underreporting and challenges in seeking appropriate treatment early, since eating disorders remain an understudied phenomenon in the region, limiting options for diagnosis and treatment.

For her part, researcher Munira Al-Mahmeed, the first researcher in the study and a fifth-year student at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, explained that the current study aimed to assess the prevalence of eating disorders among students of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at AGU, the potential contributing factors, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as an independent global stressor.

The study relied on a questionnaire consisting of demographic data and the EAT-26 test, in addition to stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted on students of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at AGU starting from the preparatory year to the sixth year. Data was collected from September 2022 to February 2023.

Researcher Muna Al-Mutawa, co-researcher and fifth-year student at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, indicated that 397 students participated in the study. The results showed that 32.1% of the students tested, most of whom were female students, were at increased risk of developing eating disorders.

The study indicated that students who lived in university housing or group housing were less likely to develop eating disorders. The study also showed that students most at risk of developing eating disorders were students in the first years of study (pre-clinical years). As expected, mental health status was significantly associated with increased risks. One of the most important results of the study demonstrated that interaction with global stressors, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, was significantly associated with a deterioration in the condition of individuals at risk of developing eating disorders. 

Researcher Munira Al-Mahmeed stated, “The study concluded that eating disorders are widespread among medical students, and that the increased risk of developing these diseases is linked to global stress factors and consequently, regional and local stressors. The study also highlighted under-acknowledged psychological and mental concerns, which calls for increasing awareness programs on campus, development of individually designed eating disorder treatment programs, and improvement to the overall quality of life and education.”