Dysfunctional Eating Research Articles

Eating Behaviors Associated With Suicidal Behaviors and Overall Risk.

Maladaptive eating behaviors remain prevalent in the US population, and a significant percentage of US college students acknowledge engaging in maladaptive eating. Formally defined eating disorders (EDs) have one of the highest mortality rates among all mental illnesses. Suicide risk is substantially elevated among individuals diagnosed with EDs, and even subclinical levels of maladaptive eating behaviors are associated with suicidality. The current study examined associations between specific problematic eating behaviors measured dimensionally (eg, purging, binging, laxative use) and specific suicide-related constructs and behaviors as well as overall suicide risk. College students (N=188; 62% women) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, a well-established measure of dysfunctional eating, as well as several self-report measures of theoretical components of suicidality, and, finally, a semistructured clinical interview to specify suicide risk category. Results showed a general pattern of moderate and strong associations between the subscales and the overall score of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and core suicide constructs of the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide. Many substantive correlations were found between specific eating behaviors and specific suicide-related behaviors; for example, purging was the highest correlate of overall suicide risk (ρ=0.36). These results are discussed in terms of consistency with the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide as well as practical implications for intervention.

Bidirectional Relationships between Eating Disorders and Type 1 and 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review

Eating disorders (ED) represent complex conditions with multifactorial etiopathogenesis. Recent scientific findings suggest that diabetes, a chronic disease profoundly influencing eating habits, could significantly contribute to the risk of developing ED. Both type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients are identified as susceptible to developing binge eating disorder (BED) and other dysfunctional eating behaviors, such as diabulimia, a condition not yet officially recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Diabulimia is characterized by a deliberate choice to omit or limit necessary insulin doses, with the aim of losing weight or limiting weight gain. This scoping review aims to consolidate the latest evidence on the bidirectional relationship between ED and diabetes, as well as their impact on patients’ quality of life. The findings from various studies reveal varied prevalence estimates, as diabetic patients often do not meet the formal diagnostic criteria for ED. Nonetheless, having diabetes appears to increase the risk of developing dysfunctional eating patterns. Simultaneously, the presence of an ED may heighten the risk of developing T2DM. Given this bidirectional relationship between ED and diabetes, this evidence underscores the importance for healthcare professionals, particularly those in diabetes care, to implement screening programs aimed at preventing and/or treating ED. Such initiatives could significantly improve patient outcome and quality of life.

Applying self-determination theory to internalized weight stigma and mental health correlates among young and middle adult women: A structural equation model.

Limited research has explored the relationship between self-determination theory constructs (basic psychological needs, autonomous/controlled regulation) and internalized weight stigma (IWS). This cross-sectional, online study surveyed 480 U.S. women aged 18-40 between 2021 and 2022. We hypothesized that need frustration and controlled weight regulation would relate to higher IWS, which would be associated with dysfunctional eating, distress, and lower life satisfaction. Conversely, we predicted that need satisfaction, autonomous regulation, and body satisfaction would be associated with reduced IWS, dysfunctional eating and distress, and higher life satisfaction. Structural equation modeling demonstrated an acceptable model fit (CMIN/DF = 2.95, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.07), accounting for 74% of IWS variance. Findings indicate the relevance of self-determination theory in understanding IWS, supporting a dual-process model whereby adverse and adaptive outcomes follow distinct pathways. Longitudinal studies are warranted to validate psychological needs and regulatory styles as mechanisms for IWS development and to assess generalizability across diverse populations.

Comparing measurement of internalized weight stigma and body dissatisfaction

Respective conceptualizations of internalized weight stigma and body dissatisfaction are distinct; however, strong relationships between measures of these two constructs prompts consideration about if these are truly unique constructs or whether current measurement tools are not adequately capturing their uniqueness. In this cross-sectional study, 480 U.S. women (78.8% white; MBMI = 25.9) ages 18–40 years, recruited from Amazon’s MechanicalTurk and a mid-sized university, completed an online survey with the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M), a modified Body Parts Satisfaction Scale (BPSS), and other validated measures of body image, eating behavior, and mental health. Exploratory factor analysis of the WBIS-M and the BPSS supported a two-factor solution, although two items from the WBIS-M loaded with BPSS items. After removing these items, the 9-item version of the WBIS-M demonstrated stronger relationships with dysfunctional eating and mental health symptoms than did the BPSS (ꞵ range = 0.32–0.62 vs. 0.01–0.18, respectively). Findings from this study provide evidence to support the validity of WBIS-M and BPSS measuring unique constructs, suggesting that internalized weight stigma can be differentiated from body dissatisfaction. This study also highlights the need for further research that examines current measurement tools for internalized weight stigma and body dissatisfaction.

Interoceptive hunger, eating attitudes and beliefs.

Interoceptive individual differences have garnered interest because of their relationship with mental health. One type of individual difference that has received little attention is variability in the sensation/s that are understood to mean a particular interoceptive state, something that may be especially relevant for hunger. We examined if interoceptive hunger is multidimensional and idiosyncratic, if it is reliable, and if it is linked to dysfunctional eating and beliefs about the causes of hunger. Participants completed a survey just before a main meal, with most retested around 1 month later. We found that interoceptive hunger has 11 dimensions, and while people differ considerably in their combinations of interoceptive hungers, these represent only 4% of all possible permutations. Hunger reports were reliable. We found relationships between variability in hunger interoception and dysfunctional eating, especially for uncontrolled eating. We also found that hunger beliefs were in some cases strongly related to aspects of hunger interoception. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Digital media and mental health in adolescent athletes

Although digital media are increasingly important for adolescent athletes, few studies explore their influence on mental health in this population. This study aimed to examine this relationship in 591 German adolescent athletes (aged 12–19 years) from 42 different sports. Longer daily social media usage was connected to increased negative affect and dysfunctional eating patterns. Similar results were found for cognitive-behavioral symptoms of excessive media usage and mental health. Structural equation modeling revealed these relationships were mediated by social comparison and quality of sleep. Higher athletic performance level was related to increased social comparison, but not to quality of sleep, negative affect, and dysfunctional eating. The negative relationship between excessive media usage and sleep was stronger in competitive and elite than in recreational athletes. Results imply digital media should receive attention when aiming to improve mental health in athletes. Relevant targets for future intervention could be social comparison and sleep.

Motivational dynamics in the prediction of self-regulation strategies for the quality and quantity of eating, eating behaviors, and life satisfaction: A longitudinal investigation

A longitudinal model was tested to examine the roles of goals and motivation in the prediction of planning and self-monitoring the quality and quantity of eating and various types of eating behaviors, and the effects of adopting these behaviors on life satisfaction over time. Participants (n = 230) completed measures assessing their goals for weight-management and their motivation to regulate eating (the baseline), their engagement in planning and self-monitoring strategies for the quality/quantity of eating (1 month), and healthy and unhealthy eating behaviors and bulimic symptoms (3 months). Life satisfaction was measured at the baseline and at 3 months. Results indicated that women who pursued health-focused goals were more likely to regulate their eating behaviors for autonomous reasons, whereas women who pursued appearance-focused goals were more likely to regulate their eating behaviors for controlled reasons. Autonomous motivation then predicted quality strategies, which were then associated with healthy eating. By opposition, controlled motivation predicted quantity strategies, which were then associated with dysfunctional eating (unhealthy eating and bulimic symptoms). Functional and dysfunctional eating behaviors were then positively and negatively associated with change in life satisfaction, respectively. This study provides some explanation for why some people succeed, whereas others fail, to regulate their eating behaviors over time.

Is (Disordered) Social Networking Sites Usage a Risk Factor for Dysfunctional Eating and Exercise Behavior?

Research over the past years has shown that exposure to thin and beauty ideals in the media can be associated with disordered eating and related variables. Nowadays, interactive media, such as social networking sites, have gained growing popularity and represent a major part of people's lives. It is therefore crucial to investigate how far users might be negatively influenced by social networking sites regarding eating pathology or excessive exercise behavior and if there are particular links to social media use disorder. Data were collected by an online-survey encompassing questions on regular social networking site use, eating disorders, and excessive exercise behavior. Analyses showed that disordered social networking sites use was significantly related to eating pathology and a poorer body image in men and women. The frequency of active or passive social networking sites usage however was not associated with exercise behavior. Our results confirm that disordered social networking sites use represents a risk factor for body image dissatisfaction and associated eating disorders.

Weighing up the future: a meta-ethnography of household perceptions of the National Child Measurement Programme in England

ABSTRACT The English National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is a nationally mandated public health programme. It provides data for child excess weight indicators in the Public Health Outcomes Framework, part of the government’s approach to reducing childhood obesity. Drawing on a meta-ethnographic synthesis of household members’ experiences of the programme, we conceptualise the NCMP as a ‘technique of futuring’ to generate new insights into how it (re)shapes and (re)imagines past, present, and future responsibilities and practices for overweight children, parents, and carers, in potentially harmful ways. For children categorised by the NCMP as overweight, the NCMP is an emotionally significant event, driving new bodily practices, new food practices and changed relationships with peers. This paper outlines how parents come to resist and reframe the programme and its results, to protect their children from a weight-focused future. They consider the potential risks of bullying, dysfunctional eating, and mental health consequences more important than future risks of overweight. We show how parents of children categorised as overweight preserve their claim to ‘responsible’ and ‘good’ parenting amongst peers, whilst shifting the blame for childhood obesity to other, ‘irresponsible’ parents, thus reproducing moralising and responsibilising discourses inherent within the ‘behaviour change’ messaging of the NCMP and associated research. Finally, we consider a central paradox of this programme and the use of NCMP population level monitoring data to (re)shape lives at the individual and social level – the children it sets out to help are the most likely to experience harm as a result of it.

Efficacy of the holistic, psychonutritional approach of Centro DAI e Obesità di Città della Pieve in the management of type 2 diabetes among patients with obesity and dysfunctional eating.

PurposeDysfunctional eating is strongly associated with obesity and worsens type 2 diabetes (T2DM) outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the psycho-nutritional treatment (PNT) of “Centro DAI e Obesità” of Città della Pieve on weight loss and glucose management in dysfunctional eaters with obesity and T2DM.MethodsPNT includes psychotherapeutical, nutritional, physical and social activities. Subjects with obesity, T2DM and dysfunctional eating habits who completed the 8 weeks residential program between 2010 and 2019 were compared with obese, T2DM, dysfunctional eaters who underwent to a conventional, hospital-based, nutritional treatment (CT). Anthropometric variables, glucolipid panel, and body composition were assessed at baseline and at the end of the program. Weight and HbA1c were also measured after one year from the completion.ResultsSixty-nine patients completed the PNT and reduced weight (−7 ± 3.2%; p < 0.001), BMI (−7 ± 3.1%; p < 0.001), and triglycerides, AST, GGT and ALT (p ≤ 0.008); glycemic control improved (HbA1c: −1.1 ± 1.5%, mean fasting glucose: −41 ± 46 mg/dl, p < 0.001). Eleven% of subjects requiring diabetes medications at baseline discontinued the therapy. In the insulin treated group (49%), mean daily units were halved (−32.6 ± 26.0, p < 0.001). At one year, weight loss (−6 ± 7.4%, p < 0.001) and HbA1c reduction (−0.52 ± 1.4%, p = 0.029) persisted. Fifty-five patients completed the CT: HbA1c reduced (p = 0.02), but weight (−0.6 ± 3.7%), BMI (−0.7 ± 3.8%), and insulin units’ reduction (−2.5 ± 11.7, p = 0.20) were lower compared to the PNT.ConclusionPNT is effective in improving T2DM management in patients with obesity and dysfunctional eating.

Weight Stigma in Patients With Obesity and Its Clinical Correlates: A Perspective From an Indian Bariatric Clinic.

IntroductionObesity being a global epidemic, currently has several adverse health outcomes. Weight stigma is a significant barrier to delivering quality services and also impairs clinical progress. We intended to study the association of stigma with demographic and clinical variables in obese patients to identify the obstacles in treatment-seeking, so stigma could be adequately addressed to improve clinical outcomes.MethodsThis study was a retrospective chart review in a Bariatric clinic in a tertiary care hospital. The weight self-stigma questionnaire (WSSQ) was routinely used in the clinic. Demographic and clinical data were collected for 146 obese patients. ResultsFemale patients (73%) had higher stigma scores. The mean total stigma score was 41.6(SD 3.83), the total self-devaluation score was 21.88(SD 2.10), total fear of enacted stigma was 21.26(SD 2.33). Multivariate analysis revealed an association between stigma with multiple dysfunctional eating patterns like bingeing, overeating, and grazing (Adjusted aOR 3.86, 95% CI- 1.66-8.96) and psychiatric diagnosis (adjusted aOR 3.00, CI- 1.25-7.17).ConclusionThis study found an association between stigma and certain clinical variables that maintain and worsen obesity and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. This highlights the importance of an assessment of mental health and stigma in general practice when dealing with patients with obesity. Treating the underlying psychiatric comorbidities and addressing unhealthy eating behaviors can help reduce self-stigma. Stigma is a barrier to treatment-seeking that needs to be addressed in the community.

“Write what you don’t understand”: disordered eating and the non-specialist therapist

Almost all mental health practitioners will encounter clients with some form of “disordered eating”. Those of us who are not specialists in the field of eating disorders can struggle with how best to approach this somewhat nebulous and, for many, uneasy topic. This article aims to encourage a curious stance with regards to clients’ relationships with food, feeding, and self-care. Some clinical vignettes are presented to illustrate how address-ing clients’ relationships with food can enrich the therapeutic process as well as providing vital information about potential dysfunctional eating.

Eating driven by the gustatory insula: contrasting regulation by infralimbic vs. prelimbic cortices.

Subregions within insular cortex and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) have been implicated in eating disorders; however, the way these brain regions interact to produce dysfunctional eating is poorly understood. The present study explored how two mPFC subregions, the infralimbic (IL) and prelimbic (PRL) cortices, regulate sucrose hyperphagia elicited specifically by a neurochemical manipulation of the agranular/dysgranular region of gustatory insula (AI/DI). Using intra-AI/DI infusion of the mu-opioid receptor (µ-OR) agonist, DAMGO (1 µg), sucrose hyperphagia was generated in ad-libitum-maintained rats, while in the same rat, either the IL or prelimbic (PRL) subregion of mPFC was inactivated bilaterally with muscimol (30 ng). Intra-IL muscimol markedly potentiated AI/DI DAMGO-induced sucrose hyperphagia by increasing eating bout duration and food consumption per bout. In contrast, PRL attenuated intra-AI/DI DAMGO-driven sucrose intake and feeding duration and eliminated the small DAMGO-induced increase in feeding bout initiation. Intra-IL or -PRL muscimol alone (i.e., without intra-AI/DI DAMGO) did not alter feeding behavior, but slightly reduced exploratory-like rearing in both mPFC subregions. These results reveal anatomical heterogeneity in mPFC regulation of the intense feeding-motivational state engendered by µ-OR signaling in the gustatory insula: IL significantly curtails consummatory activity, while PRL modestly contributes to feeding initiation. Results are discussed with regard to potential circuit-based mechanisms that may underlie the observed results.

Psychological Constructs and Dysfunctional Eating in Pakistani University Students

The&amp;nbsp;present study aims to test a model that seeks to explain how Parental Bonding and Loneliness may be responsible&amp;nbsp;in the development of Dysfunctional Eating&amp;nbsp;Patterns such as&amp;nbsp;Cognitive Restraint, Emotional Eating, Uncontrolled Eating,&amp;nbsp;Drive&amp;nbsp;toward Thinness, Bulimia and Dissatisfaction with Body Image.&amp;nbsp;It was further hypothesized that&amp;nbsp;Metacognitions, Core beliefs and Meta-Emotions&amp;nbsp;would&amp;nbsp;mediate&amp;nbsp;between&amp;nbsp;Loneliness,&amp;nbsp;Parental Bonding, and the aforementioned Dysfunctional Eating Patterns. Correlational research design&amp;nbsp;has been&amp;nbsp;used. A sample of 210 university students was selected from government and private universities. Urdu translated versions of UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3), Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R-18, Eating Disorders Inventory-3, Parental Bonding&amp;nbsp;Inventory,&amp;nbsp;Beliefs about Emotions Scale, Eating Disorders Belief Questionnaire&amp;nbsp;and Metacognitions Questionnaire&amp;nbsp;were&amp;nbsp;used for assessment purposes. Correlational&amp;nbsp;Analysis,&amp;nbsp;and Multiple Hierarchical Regression were&amp;nbsp;used to analyze the data.&amp;nbsp;Almost all dimensions of&amp;nbsp;Parental Bonding showed significant relationship with some patterns of Dysfunctional Eating.&amp;nbsp;Loneliness did not show any significant&amp;nbsp;correlation with Dysfunctional Eating.&amp;nbsp;None&amp;nbsp;of the hypothesized mediators(Metacognitions,&amp;nbsp;Meta-Emotions and Core Beliefs) mediated&amp;nbsp;the relationship between&amp;nbsp;Parental Bonding dimensions and patterns&amp;nbsp;of Dysfunctional Eating, yet&amp;nbsp;some&amp;nbsp;interesting relationships emerged.&amp;nbsp;The findings of this research can help in understanding the cultural differences between East and West. Possible reasons why results could not support the previous literature are discussed. &amp;nbsp;

Risk factors for binge eating severity among adolescent girls and boys. A structural equation modeling approach

ObjectiveParental bonding, low self-esteem, emotion dysregulation, and eating style are correlated with each other and are associated with binge eating among adolescents. However, no studies have yet examined all these variables simultaneously. In the current study, the independent and combined influences of such constructs on binge eating were tested with structural equation modeling. MethodA sample of 973 students aged between 12 and 16 (M = 14.17, SD = 1.25) years was screened by means of self-report measures assessing parental bonding, self-esteem, emotion dysregulation, eating styles and binge eating severity. ResultsSelf-esteem (β = −0.205) and eating styles (emotional β = 0.313, external β = 0.133, and restrained β = 0.178) had a direct effect on binge eating severity. The model (χ2(22) = 57.679; RMSEA = 0.041; CFI = 0.987; TLI = 0.949; SRMR = 0.024) revealed that the paths from both maternal and paternal care and maternal overprotection to binge eating were mediated through low self-esteem, emotion dysregulation and each eating style, explaining 35% of the variance. DiscussionFindings provide support for a comprehensive theoretical-based model of risk factors for binge eating and suggest the possible mechanisms through which the quality of early parental relationships contribute to developing dysfunctional eating patterns. Treatment and prevention efforts should improve self-esteem and emphasize emotion regulation capabilities.

Changes in Work Ability after Weight-Loss Surgery: Results of a Longitudinal Study of Persons with Morbid Obesity before and after Bariatric Surgery

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is a life-changing treatment, but knowledge of its influence on changes in work ability is still limited. We hypothesized that self-reported work ability improves in response to surgery-induced weight loss and sociodemographical variables (e.g., age, sex, and marital status), and that psychosocial characteristics (e.g., depressive symptoms and dysfunctional eating) may have predictive value as to patients’ work ability. Methods: A total of 200 participants scheduled for bariatric surgery were recruited between September 2015 and June 2018. They completed several self-report measures at the preoperative examination (t1) and at 6- (t2) and 12 months (t3) after bariatric surgery. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was calculated to detect any changes in the work ability and body mass index (BMI) among the 3 time points. Further, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to determine whether any demographical and psychosocial characteristics at (t1) would predict work ability at (t3). Results: Participants (82% of whom were women) were middle-aged and showed a BMI of nearly 46 at the preoperative medical examination. Excess weight loss at (t2) and at (t3) was 49 and 66%, respectively. Work ability increased toward a moderate level after weight-loss surgery. Work ability and dysfunctional eating at (t1) showed significant predictive value with respect to work ability at (t3). Discussion: The results suggest that weight-loss surgery has a positive impact on work ability, and indicate a predictive value for the extent of weight loss and dysfunctional eating behavior. Against our hypothesis and in contrast to former research, a predictive value for depressive symptoms and age was not revealed. Further research must show how interventions can support and maintain improvements in work ability after bariatric surgery, in order to reduce sick leave and unemployment in patients with preoperative morbid obesity.

Generalized Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Dysfunctional Eating Behavior after Obesity Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: The present study investigates the impact of obesity surgery on mental health (i.e., eating behavior and distress) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Two hundred fifty-four participants were recruited via social media. One hundred fourteen (44.53%) of them were surgery candidates (waiting for obesity surgery), while 142 (55.46%) had already undergone surgery. Participants who underwent surgery were compared to participants that did not yet undergo surgery in terms of mental burden (depression and anxiety), as well as safety and eating behavior. Further moderation analyses attempted to identify risk factors for increased COVID-19-related dysfunctional eating behavior after surgery. Results: Participants who underwent surgery showed generally lower levels of depression and general anxiety on a trend level. Moderation analyses suggested that people with high levels of generalized anxiety actually show more dysfunctional COVID-19-specific eating behavior after obesity surgery. Conclusion: On a trend level, obesity surgery appears to attenuate symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression. Yet, surgery patients with high levels of generalized anxiety exhibit even higher levels of dysfunctional eating during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore particularly important to support people at risk.

Dysfunctional eating behavior in fibromyalgia and its association with serum biomarkers of brain plasticity (BDNF and S100B): an exploratory study.

To assess disordered eating, hunger and satiety perceptions in women with fibromyalgia (FM) compared to healthy controls (HC) and their association with biomarkers of brain plasticity (brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B)). Cross-sectional exploratory study. The sample included FM (n = 20) and HC (n = 19), matched to age and waist perimeter. Dysfunctional eating was assessed through the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Eating Disorders Examination with a questionnaire. Hunger and satiety levels were rated by a Numerical Scale. Serum leptin, S100B and BDNF were analyzed. The MANCOVA analysis showed that the mean of Emotional Eating rates was 30.65% higher in FM compared to HC (p = 0.015). Eating, shape and weight concerns were 77.77%, 57.14% and 52.22% higher in FM (p = <0.001) compared to HC, respectively. Moreover, the FM group reported higher scores for feeling of hunger "[5.2 (±2.9) vs. 4.8 (±2.0); p = 0.042] and lower scores for satiety [7.0 (±1.7) vs. 8.3 (±1.0); p = 0.038]. In the FM group, serum BDNF was negatively associated with hunger (r = - 0.52; p = 0.02), while S100B was positively associated with hunger scores (r = 0.463; p = 0.004). The present findings support the hypothesis that the association between FM and obesity can be mediated by a hedonistic pathway. Further research is needed.

A Systematic Review on Exercise Addiction and the Disordered Eating-Eating Disorders Continuum in the Competitive Sport Context

Exercise addiction (EA) affects a considerable number of individuals who regularly perform exercise-sport activities. The co-occurrence of EA manifestations and the continuum of disordered eating-eating disorders (EDs) is so common in sports that a deeper understanding of them as comorbidities is warranted. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview and synthesis of the research on the relationship between maladaptive exercise and dysfunctional eating in the sport context. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 22 empirical studies (23 articles) with young and adult female and male athletes from several sports and competition levels was included. EA in conjunction with eating disturbances is frequent among athletes, yet the prevalence rates are inconsistent. Existing evidence suggests that EA is a relevant outcome of ED pathology among athletes, supporting the classical secondary type of EA. However, research also reveals that excessive exercising plays a central role in the psychopathology of disordered eating. There is a need for further quantitative research addressing the features and correlates of the EA-EDs dyad, qualitative research on the subjective experiences of athletes with disordered exercise and eating, longitudinal and experimental research to establish possible causal paths and attempts to develop comprehensive conceptual models of EA and its co-occurrence with EDs, in order to improve the identification, prevention, and management of this dyadic condition in the sport context.

Body Self-perceptions Of Students In Exercise Science Major

College aged students can be particularly vulnerable to body image issues, eating disorders and exercise dependency. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore body self-perceptions of students majoring in exercise science. METHODS: Twenty-two junior and senior students (13 females, 9 males) took part in this study. Participants responded to a 12-item Qualtrics survey that gauged their body self-perceptions, eating and exercise behaviors. RESULTS: Descriptive analyses indicated that close to 91% of the participants felt self-conscious about their body image. Over 95% of the participants indicated that their body weight is a relatively important topic as compared to other things in their life. Close to 72% of the participants indicated feeling fat at least sometime. Over 68% of the participants reported the need to engage in excessive exercise meaning feeling compelled to exercise no matter what, even when sick and injured. Finally, 50% of the participants indicated that some of the exercise labs made them think more about the way they looked. Additional qualitative data revealed that some respondents felt insecure at the beginning of some exercise labs (i.e., BMI, weight, waist circumference measurements and skinfold assessments). However, these participants also indicated that the labs helped them become more aware of their own personal health and take proper measures to improve it. CONCLUSION: Despite their presence in the field, students in exercise science major can be vulnerable to unhealthy self-perceptions and dysfunctional eating and exercise behaviors. Exercise labs can help students attain realistic expectations about themselves and take measures to improve their health.