The Association Between Eating Behaviours and Body Image Dissatisfaction During Ramadan in Adolescents

Fasting during Ramadan and eating rituals of iftar(the breaking of fast at sunset), and Suhoor(pre-dawn meals) may constitute an important example of the effect of sociocultural factors on an individuals' eating behaviour. The objectives of this study were to examine eating behaviours, body image perceptions and motivational factors after prolonged hunger in adolescents who were fasting(AWAF), and to examine whether there is a relationship between fasting and eating disorders. This study was conducted between June 16th and july 4th 2016 (between 11th and 29th days of Ramadan). The average fasting period was 17hours, 7minutes. The study included 238 AWAF(142 female,96 male) and 49 adolescents who are not fasting (AWANF)(33 female,16 male) with an age range of 11 -19 years. Participants were asked questions concerning fasting rituals in their home. Nutritional status of the adolescents was evaluated. Eating behaviours of adolescents were assessed with Eating Attitudes Test-26(EAT-26) and Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-Revised 18(TFEQ-R18); body image perceptions were rated by using The Figure Rating Scale. 77,2% of AWAF and 53,1% of AWANF were at a healthy weight while, 5,6% ,9,1% and 8,2% of AWAF and 14,3%, 14,3% and 18,4% of AWANF were underweight, overweight and obese respectively (p=0,005 ). The mean EAT-26 scores were not in a pathological range for both groups with no statistically significant difference [mean ± sd :12,33 ± 9,16 (AWAF), mean±sd:12,73 ± 7,3 (AWANF); p=0,29]. Similarly the mean body image dissatisfaction score was normal for both groups with no statistically significant difference [mean±sd:-0,7±0,12 (AWAF), mean±sd:-1,0± 0,3 (AWANF); p=0.47]. BID was observed in 50% of adolescents fasting because they wanted to loss weight whereas 13,9% of those fasting for religious reasons. Mean caloric intakes didn't show any statistical difference in the two groups [mean±sd :1453, 49±46,44(AWAF), mean±sd:1573, 76±98,00(AWANF); P=0,21] and in adolescents who had BID between two groups [mean±sd: 1311,99± 392.23(AWAF), mean±sd:1468,54±399,48(AWANF); p= 0,28] For the "emotional eating" subgroup of TFEQ-R18 the score was statistically significantly higher in the AWANF group [mean±sd :56,90± 1,99(AWAF), mean±sd:67,26±3,29(AWANF); p=0,009]. There were significant correlations between BID scores and the EAT-26(p= 0,036) and TFEQ-R18(p= 0.000) scores in two groups, showing that as BID increased so did the EAT-26 and TFEQ-R18 scores. Due to the long hours o