Zhongguo gonggong weisheng (Apr 2024)

Prevalence and determinants of intermittent fasting among residents aged 12 to 30 years in China, 2022: an analysis based on PBICR data

  • Xiaotian WEN,
  • Luli WU,
  • Piye NIU

DOI
https://doi.org/10.11847/zgggws1142765
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 40, no. 4
pp. 461 – 465

Abstract

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ObjectiveTo understand the prevalence and determinants of intermittent fasting in the Chinese population aged 12 to 30 years. MethodsData from 8 858 residents aged 12 – 30 years were obtained from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR) survey conducted from June to August 2022 in 32 provincial-level administrative divisions across China. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Three-Item Loneliness Scale (T-ILS), and an intermittent fasting scale developed by Chinese researchers were used by interviewers in the face-to-face survey to collect relevant information. The factors influencing intermittent fasting were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. ResultsOf all participants, 1 036 (11.70%) reported using intermittent fasting in the past year. The mean age of participants with and without intermittent fasting was 20.83 ± 4.56 years and 20.67 ± 4.80 years, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups. The results of multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that being female (odds ratio [OR] = 1.991, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.718 – 2.309), living in an urban area (OR = 1.262, 95%CI: 1.082 – 1.472), smoking (OR = 1.411, 95%CI: 1.123 – 1.774), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.432, 95%CI: 1.216 – 1.687), higher body mass index (BMI) (OR for obesity = 2.153, 95%CI: 1.528 – 3.032), severe anxiety (OR = 4.157, 95%CI: 3.164 – 5.463), and loneliness (OR = 1.258, 95%CI: 1.070 – 1.479) were risk factors for intermittent fasting (P < 0.05 for all). ConclusionThe prevalence of intermittent fasting among Chinese residents aged 12 to 30 years is influenced by various personal and psychological factors, indicating the need for dual consideration of the physiological and psychological aspects of intermittent fasting.

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