Eating disorders and related behaviors among medical students in Rabat, Morocco

Abstract

Medical students encounter a distinct array of stressors that can adversely affect their physical and mental well-being. Mental health problems such as eating disorders, stress, burnout and telephone addiction are prevalent among them. The presence of these disorders can damage their academic performance and hinder their ability to deliver quality healthcare. This study aims to determine the prevalence of eating disorders among medical students and to identify their associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted within the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Rabat, over a period from June to October 2023, among medical students. Descriptive analysis, Spearman’s rank correlation and logistic regression were performed. One hundred sixty medical students were enrolled in this study. Their mean age was 23.1 (± 0.79) years with a female predominance (52.5%). Third of participants showed signs of eating disorders (30.8%) and had body image problems (31.4%). Burnout affected 47.5% of medical students and high stress levels was experienced by 11.9% of the sample. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that moderate (p = 0.01, aOR = 9.14, CI 95% [1.71–48.8]) and high (p = 0.002, aOR = 23.24, CI 95% [3.11–173.4]) perceived stress and the presence of body image issues (p = < 0.001, aOR = 17.37, CI 95% [6.85–44.06]) were significantly associated with an increased risk of eating disorders. This study reveals that medical students present high psychosocial risks. There is an urgent need to put in place supporting measures to improve their well-being, in order to guarantee the quality of care they will provide in the future and raise society’s awareness of the importance of mental health.