Assessment of eating disorders among adolescent students in tertiary institutions in Lagos, Nigeria

Eating disorders can influence teenagers' eating patterns, nutritional health, and academic performance. This research evaluated eating disorders and their correlation with the socio-economic and demographic attributes of adolescents in six chosen tertiary institutions within Lagos State, Nigeria. The identification of adolescents experiencing eating disorders was conducted using a modified 26-item Eating Attitude Test from a sample of 866 adolescents chosen through a multistage sampling method. Information on the respondents' socio-economic and demographic traits, along with eating disorder risk referral criteria, was gathered through the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) questionnaire. Data were displayed utilizing frequency counts, percentages, means, and Chi-Square analysis. Findings indicate that 63.7% of participants were female, 43.5% were university students, while 33.3% and 23.2% were enrolled in polytechnics and Colleges of Education, respectively. Fewer than half (45.4%) of the participants received a monthly allowance ranging from ₦5000 to ₦10,000, while 46.8% and 32.0% reported that their fathers and mothers were employed in civil service, respectively; 40.2% and 62.4% stated that they were involved in business, respectively. Additionally, 21.8% of teenagers were identified as at risk for eating disorders, of which 66.5% suffered from anorexia nervosa, the most common eating disorder. Chi-square findings indicate that there was no statistically meaningful link (P>0.05) between eating disorders in the respondents and their socio-economic or demographic traits. The research found that eating disorders could be more influenced by psychological factors rather than socio-economic or demographic ones. Instilling healthy eating practices in children from a young age to avert the development of eating disorders is essential.