Determinants of eating behavior among medical university students: study protocol

AIM: To present the design of the study “Determinants of Eating Behavior Among Medical University Students”, aimed at assessing the determinants underlying eating behavior in medical students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort study will include students enrolled at the Northern State Medical University (Arkhangelsk, Russia), aged 18 to 25 years. The expected sample size is 2500 participants. The study object is eating behavior in young adults. The subject is affective-neurotic and sociodemographic determinants of eating behavior. The study materials will consist of data planned to be obtained through an anthropometric and sociopsychological assessment to be conducted at the Northern State Medical University. A control group is not planned to be formed.

EXPECTED RESULTS: The study will assess the prevalence of both underweight and overweight conditions in the target population, determine the frequency of disordered eating behavior, identify affective-neurotic and sociodemographic determinants of eating behavior, and evaluate their contribution to disordered eating. It will also examine the associations between affective-neurotic personality traits (including anxiety, depression, obsessive tendencies, and hypomanic states) and anthropometric parameters (such as weight, height, hip and waist circumference, and skinfold thickness). Based on the data obtained, it will be possible to identify affective-neurotic personality profiles associated with various forms of disordered eating behavior.