Eating Disorder Pathology in a Culinary Arts School

Abstract

Eating disorders (ED) have been reported to occur more frequently in association with certain occupations, such as dancing and modeling, but no data exist regarding ED frequency in the culinary arts profession. We therefore administered two diagnostic ED instruments (the Diagnostic Survey of Eating Disorders [C. Johnson, 1987] and the Eating Disorders Inventory [D. M. Garner, 1983]) to 411 students in a culinary arts school in Charleston, South Carolina. Eighteen percent had a lifetime ED diagnosis per DSM-III-R or DSM-IV Options Book criteria. Of 146 women, 5% had bulimia nervosa (BN), 21.2% had an ED not otherwise specified (EDNOS), and 4.1% had binge eating disorder (BED). Of 265 men, 1.5% had BN, 7.2% had EDNOS, and 1.9% had BED. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 24 for women and 27.6 for men. Men with an ED were heavier (BMI = 29.9±6.0) than men without an ED (BMI = 25.3C4, p < .0001). Them was no signjficant difference in BMI of women with and without an ED. Twentynine percent of the students were overweight (BMI > 21). An ED diagnosis was found in 21% of thore who wem ownueight. Student specialty choice (culinary vs. Aospitalicy/management) did notpredict the presence of an ED. These findings suggeat the need for student counselingprograms to be aware of the presence of EDs in culinary school applicants and students.