Author(s)

Asghar Pouresmali^1*, Parastoo Semsarilar², Mehri Mowlaie¹, Jaber Alizadeh Goradel³

¹Department of Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.
²Department of Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
³Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of eating habits and family flexibility on the body mass index in gifted students of the eighth and ninth grade of high school. The research design of this study was descriptive-correlation. The statistical population of this research included all high school gifted students of the eighth and ninth grade. The sample consisted of 220 gifted students who were selected by random sampling method. The average age of these participants was 14.56 years old, SD 10.41. Average participants BMI was 31.25, SD 3.12. One hundred and fifteen (52.28%) of these students were females and one hundred and five (47.72%) were males. Family flexibility was measured by Shakeri flexibility scale, eating habits were measured through Coker and Roger Eating Habits Questionnaire and body mass index was tested by Omron digital device. Using SPSS software, the data were analyzed to calculate correlation and simultaneous regression. The results of correlation showed that in these students, concern with weight and dieting and total eating habits have significant relationship with BMI (P < 0.001). The result of simultaneous regression also showed that concern with weight and dieting and total eating habits could explain BMI in these students (P < 0.001) and family flexibility could not explain BMI in these students (P < 0.005). The results emphasize the more important role of eating habits than family flexibility on BMI in gifted students because of sensitive and higher level of intelligence and high peer competitions.

Eating Habits, Family Flexibility, Body Mass Index (BMI), Gifted Student

Pouresmali, A. , Semsarilar, P. , Mowlaie, M. and Goradel, J. (2015) Eating Habits, Family Flexibility and the Body Mass Index (BMI) in Gifted Students. Open Journal of Medical Psychology, 4, 116-123. doi: 10.4236/ojmp.2015.44012.