Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41880338›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Prevalence and risk factors of disordered eating risk among Yemeni medical students: A national multicenter cross-sectional study.

Naji Al-Bawah, Mohamed Baklola, Anas H Khalifeh, Ahmed Al-Eryani, Anas Zakarya Nourelden, Saif Alaribi, Ehab Sharyan, Fayda Al-Wesabi, Aaida Al Wesabi, Ahdab Al-Jaberi and 5 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
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Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Naji Al-BawahFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Mohamed BaklolaFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Anas H KhalifehDepartment of Community and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Ahmed Al-EryaniFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Anas Zakarya NoureldenFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Saif AlaribiFaculty of Medicine, Emirates International University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Ehab SharyanFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6297-1707
Fayda Al-WesabiFaculty of Medicine, 21 September University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Aaida Al WesabiFaculty of Medicine, 21 September University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Ahdab Al-JaberiFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Sama ShamsanFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Ahmed AbdulmughniFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Ghailan Al-JarbaniFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Hisham SalmanFaculty of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
Amira Yasmine BenmeloukaFaculty of Medicine, University of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDisordered eating behaviors represent an important mental health concern among medical students, who are exposed to substantial academic and psychological stressors. Data on disordered eating risk in Yemen remain limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of disordered eating risk among Yemeni medical students and to examine associated sociodemographic, lifestyle, medical, and psychological factors.

methodsA national multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2025 across fifteen Yemeni medical colleges. Undergraduate students completed a structured, self-administered online questionnaire using a convenience sampling approach. Disordered eating risk was assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), with a cutoff score of ≥20. Additional items assessed sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, chronic medical conditions, and self-reported psychiatric diagnoses. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine factors associated with disordered eating risk.

resultsA total of 3,540 students participated. Overall, 30.4% screened positive for disordered eating risk. Disordered eating risk was associated with food insecurity, parental perception of being overweight, weight dissatisfaction, type 1 diabetes mellitus, past suicide attempts, and several self-reported psychiatric conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder. Weight satisfaction was associated with lower odds of risk. Additionally, 31.6% of participants reported a prior self-reported diagnosis of an eating disorder, which was not independently verified.

conclusionDisordered eating risk was common among Yemeni medical students and was associated with multiple sociodemographic, medical, and psychological factors. Given the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, causal relationships cannot be established. The findings suggest that consideration may be given to screening and supportive mental health resources within medical training institutions.

Indexed as

Feeding and Eating DisordersStudents, MedicalAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesYemenYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41880338
PMCPMC13016294

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