Prevalence of Anorexic Attitudes and Behaviors among Undergraduate College Students

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To examine the prevalence of eating attitudes and behaviors in college students that are associated with symptoms of anorexia nervosa using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT).Anorexia nervosa is common among college students. Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa can only be obtained by clinical evaluation, however, instruments are available to detect behaviors and attitudes that are characteristic of this disorder. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of anorexic attitudes and behaviors among college students. 671 college students, enrolled in an introductory food and nutrition course, volunteered to complete the Eating Attitude Test (EAT). The EAT is a 40 question, Liekert scale instrument which measures the severity of symptomatic responses. A score equal to or greater than 30 was considered at risk for anorexia nervosa. In this study sample, 15.5% scored at risk. 5% of 182 males and 19% of 489 females had scores indicating that they display abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors. Chi Square tests found differences between gender (p<0.001) for the total EAT score. Multivariate Analysis of Variance of mean responses on the three subscales of the EAT (Dieting, Bulimia and Food Preoccupation, Oral Control) found differences for gender (p<0.0001) and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.0001). Analysis of Variance found differences between males and females on the Dieting (p<0.0001) and Bulimia (p<0.0001) subscales, but not the Oral Control subscale. Differences were found on the Dieting subscale between those classified as underweight versus those of normal weight (p<0.04) and overweight (p<0.005). Differences were also found on the Bulimia subscale between underweight versus overweight subjects (p<0.01) and normal weight versus overweight (p<0.009). Differences existed between underweight versus both normal (p<0.0001) and overweight subjects (p<0.0001), as well as, normal versus overweight subjects (p<0.0004) on the Oral Control subscale.This study demonstrated a higher prevalence rate among college students of abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors than other similar reported studies using the EAT on this population group.