Title
Perceived stress and high fat intake: A study in a sample of undergraduate students
Date Issued
01 March 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Jair Vidal E.
Alvarez D.
Martinez-Velarde D.
Vidal-Damas L.
Yuncar-Rojas K.
Julca-Malca A.
BERNABE ORTIZ, ANTONIO
Publisher(s)
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Objectives Different studies have reported the association between perceived stress and unhealthy diet choices. We aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between perceived stress and fat intake among undergraduate medical students. Methods/Principal findings A cross-sectional study was performed including first-year medical students. The outcome of interest was the self-report of fat intake assessed using the Block Screening Questionnaire for Fat Intake (high vs. low intake), whereas the exposure was perceived stress (low/ normal vs. high levels). The prevalence of high fat intake was estimated and the association of interest was determined using prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Models were created utilizing Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Data from 523 students were analyzed, 52.0% female, mean age 19.0 (SD 1.7) years. The prevalence of high fat intake was 42.4% (CI: 38.2%–46.7%). In multivariate model and compared with those with lowest levels of stress, those in the middle (PR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.20–2.12) and highest (PR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.46–2.53) categories of perceived stress had greater prevalence of fat intake. Gender was an effect modifier of this association (p = 0.008). Conclusions Greater levels of perceived stress were associated with higher fat intake, and this association was stronger among males. More than 40% of students reported having high fat consumption. Our results suggest the need to implement strategies that promote decreased fat intake.
Volume
13
Issue
3
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Psicología Nutrición, Dietética
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85043793426
PubMed ID
Source
PLoS ONE
ISSN of the container
19326203
Sponsor(s)
This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust, 103994/Z/14/Z (Dr. Antonio Bernabe-Ortiz).
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus