Assessment Of Anxiety Sensitivity, Emotional Eating Behaviour, And Processed Food Consumption Among Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

Introduction: Medical undergraduates face intense academic stressors, potentially leading to maladaptive coping strategies like emotional eating and reliance on ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Anxiety sensitivity, characterized by fear of anxiety-related sensations, may exacerbate these behaviors, increasing risks of obesity and mental health issues. This study evaluates anxiety sensitivity, emotional eating, and UPF consumption among undergraduate medical students and their interrelationships.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2023 among 142 undergraduate medical students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Guntur, India. Convenience sampling was employed, with sample size calculated using 37.9% emotional eating prevalence (n=142, z=1.96, d=8%). Data were collected via the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3), Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ), and a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for UPFs. Eligible participants were aged 17–24 years and willing to participate; those with severe psychiatric disorders were excluded. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS v.20, with Chi-square tests and Pearson correlation (p<0.05).

Results: Among 142 participants (63.4% female, mean age 20.8±1.4 years), 47.2% reported almost no anxiety sensitivity, 33.1% low, 16.2% moderate, and 3.5% high. Emotional eating was noted in 41.5%, with 5.6% very emotional eaters. High UPF consumption (≥8 times/week) was reported by 25.3%. Significant correlations existed between anxiety sensitivity and emotional eating (r=0.512, p<0.001), anxiety sensitivity and UPFs (r=0.387, p<0.001), and emotional eating and UPFs (r=0.462, p<0.001). Regression showed emotional eating (β=0.338) and anxiety sensitivity (β=0.214) predicted 24.4% of UPF variance (R²=0.244, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Strong associations among anxiety sensitivity, emotional eating, and UPF consumption highlight the need for stress management and dietary interventions in medical curricula to enhance student well-being.