The relationship between body mass index and internet problematic use, eating disturbances, sleep difficulties, and psychological distress in portuguese university students

Introduction: Body mass index (BMI), in overweight and obese individuals, have been associated with sedentary habits, unhealthy use of internet, eating disturbances, sleep difficulties, and psychological distress. Objectives: To investigate the association between BMI and internet use patterns and problematic use, eating disturbances, sleep difficulties, and psychological distress among Portuguese university students Methods: 456 students (76.9% females; meanSD age=20.301.90 years old) fulfilled a questionnaire that include questions on sociodemographic data, internet use patterns, eating habits during internet use, the Portuguese version of the Generalized Problematic Interne Use Scale 2 (GPIU), the Eating Attitudes Test 25, the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21, and the Basic Scale on Insomnia Complaints and Quality of Sleep (BaSIQS). Results: BMI mean score was of 22.01 (SD=2.91, range 15-35), underweight were 6.1%, normal weight 81.1%, overweight 10.7% and obese 2%. Significant correlations were found between BMI and individual’s perception that online activity’s impair the quality of their interpersonal relationships (r=.104, p<.05), consume of sweet/ salty/ starchy foods during online activity´s (r=.107, p<.05), global eating disturbances (r=.174, p<.01), diet concerns (r=.301, p<.01), bulimic behaviours (r=.204, p<.01), social pressure to eat (r=-.430, p<.01), psychological distress (r=.114, p<.05), stress (r=.101, p<.05), anxiety (r=.128, p<.01). None of the GPIU and BaSIQS total and dimensions scores were significantly related to BMI. Conclusions: The results do not support the association between students BMI and internet use patterns and problematic use. The kind of food consumed during online activity´s, eating disturbances and psychological distress should be addressed by intervention strategies for overweight students.