The relationship between dietary patterns, body image, and anxiety in adolescent's male students

Dietary patterns and psychological health have strong relationship. People with unfit body may experience few mental problems. The present study examined the association between dietary patterns and anxiety in middle school students. The research is descriptive and correlational. The study population included guidance school students who were studying in the academic year 2013-14 in the Baharestan city, in Tehran province. The population sample of 220 students from schools was chosen by multi-stage cluster sampling method. Research measurements including, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were utilized. The Data were analyzed using inferential statistics factor analysis, logistic regression, and Spearman correlation coefficients. Factor analysis showed that both healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns among subjects had the highest dispersion Justifying 34.11 percent of the total Variance of consumption. Spearman correlation showed a significant positive correlation between anxiety and unhealthy eating patterns (P<0.0005). Logistic regression analysis showed that most students with unhealthy eating patterns are more likely to suffer from anxiety (P<0.0005). The other part of the logistic regression model showed that students who show unhealthier dietary pattern have a worse body image. the present results indicated that there is a relationship between dietary patterns, body image, and anxiety. Furthermore, people with unhealthy food patterns have a poorer body image and are more anxious.