Assessment of Eating Behaviors and Lifestyle Habits of Community Living Indian Adults, with and without Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The study was aimed at comparing the eating behaviours, stress symptoms and lifestyle habits, like sleep quality and amount of physical activity, also anthropometric indices and socio-demographic variables of community living 18-45 years old Indian adults with and without Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The study was an observational cross sectional study. Snowball method of convenience sampling was used to recruit 214 participants. An electronic self reported questionnaire was used to collect data. The association between categorical variables was assessed using chi square test. Linear regression was used to predict the independent association of lifestyle factors on the odds of having IBS. Significance for all the statistical measures was determined at less than0.05 level. IBS was diagnosed positive for 16 of the 214 participants, thus prevalence was found to be 7.5%. In the IBS positive group, about 54% were females and 87.5% were in the age group of 18-25 years alone. 62.5% of the IBS positives had a larger than normal waist circumference. 67% reported their bowel habit to be alternating between diarrhoea and constipation. Sleep quality was reported to be poor in 100% of the IBS positive population. Mild and moderate depression was found to be prevalent among the IBS positives. About 74.3% of the individuals with IBS were found to be moderately inactive. Pulse preparations (p=0.003), and fruits like apples (pless than0.000) and bananas (pless than0.010), were consumed lesser by the IBS group. HFSS items like Biscuits (p=0.041) and Cakes (pless than0.000) were consumed more often by them. A similar trend was seen for Chaats (p=0.012), Ice creams (pless than0.000), Chocolates (p=0.006), Coffee (p=0.049) and Soft drinks (p=0.038). Skipping at least one major meal in a day (pless than0.000) and replacing a meal with an energy bar (p=0.029) were more frequent in the IBS group than the normal individuals. Linear regression analysis revealed that a lower PSQI Score (p= 0.012), Larger waist circumference (p=0.001), Certain foods being triggers to GI symptoms and thus avoiding them (p=0.006), Consuming alcohol (p=0.042) to be significantly related to the IBS occurrence. The study concluded that a female gender and younger age group can be predicted to be a risk factor of IBS. Irregular eating habits and bad dietary choices can aggravate symptoms. Regular physical activity, taking care of mental health, following sleep hygiene and being conscious about food choices can be beneficial in preventing IBS symptoms.