Factors associated with the risk of developing eating disorders among medical students in Casablanca, Morocco

Introduction: eating disorders (EDs) are particularly common among young adults, including students. The purpose of this study is to determine eating disorder prevalence among medical students in Casablanca and to assess the risk of developing EDs on the bases of associated factors including socioeconomic factors, clinical features, anxiety and depression. Methods: we conducted a crosssectional, descriptive and analytical study at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital and at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Morocco, during the academic year 2016-2017. The survey involved a sample of 506 students. We used the SCOFF-F (Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food, French version) questionnaire, a validated tool for eating disorders and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) for anxiety and depression. Results: the SCOFF questionnaire found that 127 people out of 506 (25.09%) were likely to suffer from eating disorders. Age, educational level, weight management tools, anxiety and depression were significantly associated with the risk of developing eating disorders among medical students. Conclusion: our results are in agreement with data from the literature concerning eating disorder rates in the student population and, more specifically, among medical students. Further, studies of a more heterogeneous population are needed to have a more global vision of the situation in Morocco.