Compulsão alimentar em universitários de uma cidade de médio porte do Rio Grande do Sul

Introduction: Eating disorders are common in the university environment and binge eating is associated with females, the presence of overweight and obesity, it is more common in students of Health field courses and in people who highly value the physical body. The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of binge eating in university students in a medium-sized city in Rio Grande do Sul. Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive study with university students, adults, of both sexes, regularly enrolled in Nutrition and Literature courses / Portuguese Federal University of Pelotas. Participants were weighed and answered a self-administered questionnaire on socioeconomic conditions, eating and living habits, as well as a questionnaire containing the Periodic Eating Compulsion Scale. The data collected were analyzed using Microsoft Excel® Software and statistical analyzes were performed using the Stata® 14.0 statistical package, with a 5% significance level (p <0.05). Results: The majority of the sample is female (81.7%), with a mean age of 25.4 years and with nutritional status classified as eutrophic (65.2%). As for eating habits, there was no adequacy regarding the consumption of beans, milk, fruits and vegetables. Binge eating disorder was identified in 9.6% of students, being more prevalent in the Language / Portuguese course (14.7%) and 52.2% of students reported perceiving episodes of binge eating. Conclusion: The sample studied shows inappropriate eating behavior and a significant perception of binge eating. It is suggested that the University implement the use of questionnaires to assess the presence of eating disorders in its students, enabling constant research and enabling the consolidation of a psychological and nutritional support service to students who need it.