1. Eating disorder risk, exercise dependence, and body weight dissatisfaction among female nutrition and exercise science university majors
- Author
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Dana Ogan, Natalie Harris, Kelly Pritchett, Debra d'Acquisto, and David J. Gee
- Subjects
Adult ,Washington ,Gerontology ,Adolescent ,Universities ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Body weight ,Career Pathways ,Body Mass Index ,Feeding and Eating Disorders ,Young Adult ,Risk Factors ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Body Image ,medicine ,Humans ,Young adult ,Students ,Exercise ,Disorder risk ,Potential risk ,Brief Report ,Body Weight ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Eating disorders ,Increased risk ,Female ,Psychology ,Body mass index ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Background and Aims Past research has examined eating disorder risk among college students majoring in Nutrition and has suggested an increased risk, while other studies contradict these results. Exercise Science majors, however, have yet to be fully examined regarding their risk for eating disorders and exercise dependence. Based on pressures to fit the image associated with careers related to these two disciplines, research is warranted to examine the potential risk for both eating disorder and exercise dependence. The purpose of this study is to compare eating disorder risk, exercise dependence, and body weight dissatisfaction (BWD) between Nutrition and Exercise Science majors, compared to students outside of these career pathways. Methods Participants (n = 89) were divided into three groups based on major; Nutrition majors (NUTR; n = 31), Exercise Science majors (EXSC; n = 30), and other majors (CON; n = 28). Participants were given the EAT-26 questionnaire and the Exercise Dependence Scale. BWD was calculated as the discrepancy between actual BMI and ideal BMI. Results The majority of participants expressed a desire to weigh less (83%) and EXSC had significantly (p = .03) greater BWD than NUTR. However, there were no significant differences in eating disorder risk or exercise dependence among majors. Discussion and Conclusions This study suggested there was no significant difference in eating disorder risk or exercise dependence between the three groups (NUTR, EXSC, and CON).
- Published
- 2015
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