The impact of generalized joint hypermobility on eating behavior of students: A case-control study

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the impact of generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) on eating behavior.

Participants

Physical therapy and rehabilitation students.

Methods

The Beighton evaluation (a cutoff of 5/9) for defining GJH. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) was used for eating disorders. Smoking habits and alcohol use were also questioned.

Results

Compared with 51 non-GJH students (mean age 20.5 years, 73% female), 46 students with asymptomatic GJH (20.6 years, 89% female) were more likely to have greater median EAT-40 scores (9 vs. 6, p = .002). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the susceptibility to eating behavior disorders (6.5% vs. 2.0%), smoking habits (6.5% vs. 9.8%), and alcohol use (15.2% vs. 11.8%) (p > .05). Positive correlation (r = .221, p = .029) and positive effect (R = 0.221, R² = 0.049; p < .05) between Beighton scores and EAT-40 scores were found.

Conclusion

The more joint hypermobility the greater the risk for eating disorders.

Keywords:

• Connective tissue
• eating attitudes
• joint hypermobility

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of Turkey and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Trakya University Medical Faculty.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.