A Comparison of Dietetics Career Choice Motivators and Prevalence of Eating Disorders in a College Female Population

Abstract

While the prevalence of eating disorders in college-aged females has been the subject of much research, no investigations have examined the relationship of career choice issues to eating disorders. Much anecdotal evidence suggests that dietetics majors have a substantially higher incidence of both eating disorders and disordered eating, and that their abnormal relationship with food may contribute to their career choice. The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the relationship between dietetics career choice motivators and prevalence of eating disorders in a college female population and (2) compare the prevalence rates of sub-clinical and clinical eating disorders in a college female population between dietetics and non-dietetics students. Both dietetics and non-dietetics students completed the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and a DSM-IV criteria checklist; dietetics majors also completed a career choice motivator questionnaire. EAT-26 scores and DSM-IV checklist answers were combined to classify respondents into four groups: “clinically disordered”, “high sub-clinically disordered”, “low sub-clinically disordered”, and “non-disordered”. Frequencies of responses to the career choice motivator questionnaire were determined, and responses were classified as disordered or non-disordered. Second most frequently listed career motivator category was past or present eating disorder. Significantly higher prevalence of eating disorders was found in students who listed “disordered” motivators. Comparison of four groups (entry-level dietetics, advanced dietetics, entry-level non-dietetics, advanced non-dietetics) found that mean EAT-26 score was significantly higher for entry-level dietetics majors than for the other three groups. These results support anecdotal evidence of the higher prevalence of eating disorders in some subsets of dietetics majors, and suggest the need for additional research to elucidate reasons for the lower prevalence in advanced level dietetics students. The possibility of conflict between personal eating behaviors and dietetics practice is an issue for further professional debate.