Analysis of factors influencing the eating behavior of young people

Abstract

The article presents the result of the analysis of factors that presumably affect the eating behavior of young people. The study involved 197 students of the Saratov State Law Academy of 1–2 courses of study. The study of the eating behavior of young people was carried out using an adapted questionnaire, which includes questions about the nature of the diet, the mode and frequency of food intake, the frequency of consumption of foods saturated with fiber, as well as junk food (sweets, fast food, sweet carbonated drinks, instant products, semi-finished products). The following factors were selected as factors presumably capable of influencing the eating behavior of the study participants: satisfaction of study participants with their own weight; the level of material well-being of young people; regular exercise; the frequency of psycho-emotional stress; awareness of students about the rules of eating behavior; intrafamily microclimate; subjective assessment of the eating behavior of the parents of the study participants. The data obtained indicate a high prevalence of eating disorders among young people, as evidenced by the frequency of eating disorders, insufficient frequency of food intake (less than 3 times a day), the frequency of eating unhealthy foods, rare consumption of foods saturated with fiber. The established correlations may indicate a positive influence on the eating behavior of such factors as a high level of material well-being, sports, adherence to the correct eating behavior of the parents of the study participants. At the same time, a high frequency of psychoemotional stress, as well as frequent intra-family conflicts, can have a negative impact. Thus, the results obtained indicate the need for an integrated approach in solving the problem associated with the high prevalence of eating disorders among young people, which is based on various factors.