KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING EATING DISORDER AMONG NURSING STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF LAHORE

The objectives of this survey were to assess knowledge and attitude towards eating disorder among nursing students of university of Lahore. The survey contained the sample of 111 participants between the ages of 18 to 25 years. Data were collected through Questionere. 77.5% correctly new the definition of bulimia nervosa and 61.3% knew the definition of anorexia. Female, overweight or obese individuals, and who had at least one parent with a college degree or higher level of education were more likely to have knowledge.  More than half 77.5% had fear of getting fat. Female, who were overweight, did not know the definition of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, avoided eating when they were hungry, and who always and usually were engaged in dieting behavior were more likely to have fear of getting fat. Respondents who always had a strong desire to be thinner and who had a fear of getting fat were more likely to engage in dieting behavior. There is need to inform students about eating disorders, and healthcare workers may play a crucial role in distributing eating disorder-related knowledge.

Keywords: nursing students, attitude, cross sectional survey, eating disorders, knowledge.