Eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction among college students

Introduction: Body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior increase during college. Objectives: To identify symptoms of eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction in college students and to verify the relationship between eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 408 college students (283 females), aged 18-23y, enrolled in the first semester of health science in public universities from Recife-PE. Symptoms of eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction were assessed by self-report questionnaires (EAT-26, BITE, BES, BSQ). Results: Body image dissatisfaction was independently associated with a 22-fold increased risk for anorexia nervosa, 18-fold for bulimia nervosa and 25-fold for binge eating. Female college students (32.5%; CI95%=27.2-38.1%) have higher symptoms of eating disorders than males (18.4%; CI95%=12.3-25.9%). Specifically for bulimia, both females (26.1%; CI95%=21.3-31.5%) and males (21.6%; CI95%=15.1-29.5%) are at greater risk of developing this illness. Conclusion: The current findings provide preliminary evidence about risks of college health sciences students with body image dissatisfaction to develop eating disorders.

Download Full-text

The Association of Body Image With Anthropometric Measures and Eating Disorders Among Students From University Sports Teams

International journal of epidemiologic research ◽

10.15171/ijer.2019.21 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 114-119

Author(s):

Nastaran Miri ◽

Mostafa Noroozi ◽

Rosa Zavoshy ◽

Neda Ezzeddin

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Image ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

The Body ◽

Anthropometric Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sports Teams ◽

Eat 26

Background and aims: Body image is defined as a complex concept involving a person’s thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about his/her body. The body image dissatisfaction may expose the individuals, specifically athletes, to eating disorders (EDs). The aim of this study is to assess the association of body image score with EDs and anthropometric measures in students from university sports teams. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 225 students from sports teams of Qazvin University in 2014. The samples were selected by the census method. The Multidimensional BodySelf Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), eating attitudes test (EAT-26) questionnaire, and demographic information questionnaire were used for collecting data. Anthropometric characteristics were also measured. The data were analyzed in SPSS software version 22.0. Results: The result of the study showed that the association of body image score with age (P=0.012, OR=0.80, CI=0.179, 1.437) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (P=0.013, OR=-52.14, CI=-93.20, -11.08) was positively significant. Although the mean body image score was lower in students with EDs, it was not statistically significant. In addition, there was not a significant association between body image score and other variables such as marital status, gender, educational level, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and hip circumference (HC) (P>0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the body image had a positive significant association with age, and a negative significant one with WHtR. This may indicate that abdominal obesity plays an important role in body image satisfaction among students from the university sports teams.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Eating Disorder Risk and Body Image Dissatisfaction among ROTC Cadets

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17218137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (21) ◽

pp. 8137

Author(s):

Allison Smith ◽

Dawn Emerson ◽

Zachary Winkelmann ◽

Devin Potter ◽

Toni Torres-McGehee

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Eating Disorder Risk ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Modifiable Factors ◽

Rotc Cadets ◽

Eat 26 ◽

Disorder Risk

Injury risk is multifactorial including non-modifiable and modifiable factors such as nutrition and mental health. The purpose of this study was to estimate eating disorder risk and body image (BI) dissatisfaction among Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. A total of 102 (male: n = 75, female: n = 27; age: 20 ± 2 years) ROTC cadets self-reported height, current and ideal weight, and completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and self-perceived BI current and perceived sex-specific figural stimuli. The overall eating disorder risk for ROTC cadets was 32.4%. No significant differences were found when comparing sex, ethnicity, or military branch. Overall risk of pathogenic behaviors included 11.8% who reported binge eating; 8.8% who used laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills; 8.8% who exercised for >60 min to control their weight; and 8.8% who lost 9.1 kg or more within the last 6 months. We identified significant interactions (p ≤ 0.01) between sex of the solider, overall perceptions of male and female soldiers, and BI self-perceptions. The ROTC cadets in this study displayed eating disorder risk and BI dissatisfaction, which is concerning for tactical readiness, long-term behavioral health issues, and injury from pathogenic behaviors. Education and quality healthcare are necessary to mitigate the increased risk of eating and BI dissatisfaction within this population.

Download Full-text

Influence of Psychological, Anthropometric and Sociodemographic Factors on the Symptoms of Eating Disorders in Young Athletes

Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto) ◽

10.1590/1982-43272457201404 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (57) ◽

pp. 21-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Leonardo de Sousa Fortes ◽

Sebastião de Sousa Almeida ◽

Maria Elisa Caputo Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Image ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

Skinfold Thickness ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

Fat Percentage ◽

Young Athletes ◽

Eat 26

The aim of the current study was to analyse the influence of psychological, anthropometric and sociodemographic factors on the risk behaviours for eating disorders (ED) in young athletes. Participants were 580 adolescents of both sexes. We used the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), theBody Shape Questionnaire and the Commitment Exercise Scale to assess the risk behaviours for ED, body image dissatisfaction (BD) and the degree of psychological commitment to exercise (DPCE), respectively. Participants’ weight, height and skinfold thickness were measured. A multiple regression indicated that BD and percentage of fat significantly modulated ( p < .05) the variance of females’ EAT-26 scores, whereas BD, DPCE, fat percentage, age, ethnicity and competitive level significantly explained ( p < .05) the variance of risk behaviours for males’ ED. Thus, only BD influenced risk behaviours for ED in both sexes.

Download Full-text

Distorsión de la imagen corporal y trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes gimnastas respecto a un grupo control de adolescentes no gimnastas con un IMC similar (Body image distortion and eating disorders in adolescent gymnasts vs. a control group of non-

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v37i37.67090 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 297-302

Author(s):

Gabriela Valles Verdugo ◽

Esteban Hernández Armas ◽

Raúl Baños ◽

José Moncada-Jiménez ◽

Iván Rentería

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Image ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

Control Group ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Factores De Riesgo ◽

Las Mujeres ◽

Similar Body ◽

Probabilistic Sample ◽

And Control

Introducción: Los trastornos de la imagen corporal y alimentarios, así como conductas de control de peso riesgosas para la salud, son más frecuentes en los deportistas que practican deportes con énfasis en la estética, la delgadez y un bajo peso específico. Objetivo: Comparar la imagen corporal (insatisfacción y alteración) y el riesgo de trastornos alimenticios en una muestra de adolescentes gimnastas versus un grupo control de adolescentes no gimnastas con un IMC similar. Material y métodos: Se seleccionó un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia de 56 participantes mujeres y hombres clasificados como gimnastas élite, gimnastas regulares y grupo control. La imagen corporal y trastornos alimenticios fueron valorados con la Escala de Factores de Riesgo de Trastornos Alimentarios (EFRATA). Resultados: Al realizar una prueba ANOVA de dos factores, la insatisfacción con la imagen corporal, presentó diferencias estadísticamente significativas por sexo (F(1, 55) =17.41, p ≤ 0.001) y grupo (F(2, 55) = 3.66, p = 0.033), mostrando un mayor grado de insatisfacción los hombres (M= -0.54) respecto a las mujeres (M = 0.43). El riesgo de anorexia mostró diferencias significativas por sexo (F(1, 55) = 10.69, p = 0.002) y grupo (F(2, 55) = 7.97, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusión: Los gimnastas presentaron un mayor grado de insatisfacción corporal al desear una silueta más gruesa o musculosa para el caso de los varones, mientras que las mujeres quieren ser más delgadas respecto al grupo control. De igual forma los gimnastas reportaron un mayor riesgo de anorexia en comparación con el grupo control.Abstract. Introduction: Body image and eating disorders, as well as risky weight management behaviors are more frequent in athletes who practice sports with an emphasis on aesthetics, thinness and a specific low body weight. Objective: to compare body image (dissatisfaction and alteration) and the risk of eating disorders in a sample of adolescent gymnasts versus a control group of non-gymnastics adolescents with similar BMI. Material and methods: A convenient non-probabilistic sample of 56 female and male participants classified as elite, regular gymnasts and control group with a BMI similar to that of gymnasts. The instrument used to assess body image and eating disorders was the Scale of Risk Factors for Eating Disorders. Results: When performing an inferential analysis using a two-way ANOVA, dissatisfaction with body image showed statistically significant gender (F(1, 55) = 17.41, p ≤ 0.001) and group (F(2 , 55) = 3.66, p = 0.033) differences, males displaying higher degree of dissatisfaction (M = -0.54) than females (M = 0.43). The risk of anorexia showed significant differences by sex (F (1, 55) = 10.69, p = 0.002) and group (F (2,55) = 7,97, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Gymnasts showed greater body dissatisfaction, with males desiring a more muscular silhouette whilst females a leaner figure compared to the control group. Likewise, gymnasts reported an increased risk of anorexia compared to the control group.

Download Full-text

Influence of the Mass Media and Body Dissatisfaction on the Risk in Adolescents of Developing Eating Disorders

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16091508 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. 1508 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Francisco Nataniel Macedo Uchôa ◽

Natalia Macêdo Uchôa ◽

Thiago Medeiros da Costa Daniele ◽

Romario Primeiro Lustosa ◽

Nuno Domingos Garrido ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Mass Media ◽

Body Dissatisfaction ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Mass Media ◽

Eat 26

Media influence may lead adolescents to internalize patterns of physical beauty, resulting in dissatisfaction with their own bodies when they are unable to match up to these patterns. In the constant search for an ‘ideal body’, adolescents may begin to develop risk behaviors for the development of eating disorders (ED). The object of this study was to analyze the influence of the mass media on body dissatisfaction (BD) and on ED in adolescents, comparing genders. We also analyzed the influence of BD on the risk of developing unsuitable eating behaviors, with risk of ED, comparing genders. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1011 adolescents: 527 girls and 484 boys. The BMI of each adolescent was determined, and the instruments EAT-26, Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3), and body shape questionnaire (BSQ), were applied. For statistical analysis, we used Student’s t-test, the chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation test, the odds ratio, and hierarchical multiple linear regression. The influence of the mass media is associated with a greater probability of adolescents presenting BD. An increase in BD is associated with an increased risk of developing ED in adolescents of both genders but is greater in girls than in boys. Furthermore, the influence of the MM and BMI are predictors of BD in both genders; and BD is a predictor of ED risk in both girls and boys.

Download Full-text

Control Balance, Personality Traits, Attachment, and Communication Styles Associated with Stalking

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520959639 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052095963

Author(s):

Danika R. Sciarrotta ◽

Luci A. Martin ◽

Richard Rogers

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Self Report ◽

Communication Styles ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Correlational Design ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Control Balance

Stalking is associated with negative occupational, physical, social, and psychological consequences, yet little is known about who is at risk of being stalked. The purpose of the current study was to determine if individuals with experiences of being stalked have unique personality traits, attachment, and communication styles. Participants ( N = 180; 78% female, mean age = 24, SD = 8.18) completed an online, self-report survey utilizing a cross-sectional, correlational design. Results indicated that 21% ( N = 38) of participants reported experiences of being stalked. Those who had experienced stalking had a higher control deficit ( t = 3.99, p = .000), higher control surplus ( t = 2.14, p = .03), and lower general health scores ( t = –2.50, p = .01), as compared to participants who had not experienced stalking. Results also showed that those who had experienced stalking possessed higher scores of openness ( F = 5.41, p = .021), neuroticism ( F = 5.29, p = .023), and motivation to defer to a dominant partner ( F = 46.79, p = .000). A logistic regression revealed that higher scores on neuroticism, motivation to defer to a dominant partner, and extroversion were associated with an increased risk of being stalked, whereas higher scores on interpersonal deference, disequilibrium, and agreeableness decreased college students’ risk of being stalked (χ2 (11, N = 180) = 67.34, p < .001). Findings provide information that may be used to decrease the prevalence of stalking victimization and inform clinical treatment for victims of this crime.

Download Full-text

Mental health of undocumented migrants and migrants undergoing regularization in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03149-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Julien Fakhoury ◽

Claudine Burton-Jeangros ◽

Liala Consoli ◽

Aline Duvoisin ◽

Delphine Courvoisier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Legal Status ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Undocumented Migrants ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Anxiety Depression

Abstract Background Undocumented migrants live and work in precarious conditions. Few studies have explored the mental health consequences of such environment. The objective of this study is to describe the mental health of migrants at different stages of a regularization program. Methods This cross-sectional study included migrants undocumented or in the process of regularization. We screened for symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance using validated tools. We created a composite outcome of altered mental health including these components plus self-report of a recent diagnosis of mental health condition by a health professional. Results We enrolled 456 participants of whom 246 (53.9%) were undocumented. They were predominantly women (71.9%) with a median age of 43.3 (interquartile range: 15.5) years, from Latin America (63.6%) or Asia (20.2%) who had lived in Switzerland for 12 (IQR: 7) years. Overall, 57.2% presented symptoms of altered mental health. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance were 36% (95% confidence interval: 31.6–40.6%), 45.4% (95% CI: 40.8–50.1%) and 23% (95% CI: 19.2–27.2), respectively. Younger age (adjusted odd ratio: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.9 for each additional decade), social isolation (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4–4.2), exposure to abuse (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.5), financial instability (aOR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.4–3.7) and multi-morbidity (aOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.7–6.5) were associated with increased risk of having altered mental health while being in the early stages of the process of regularization had no effect (aOR: 1.3: 95% CI: 0.8–2.2). Conclusions This study highlights the need for multi-pronged social and health interventions addressing the various domains of undocumented migrants living difficulties as complement to legal status regularization policies. Protection against unfair working conditions and abuse, access to adequate housing, promoting social integration and preventive interventions to tackle the early occurrence of chronic diseases may all contribute to reduce the burden of altered mental health in this group. More research is needed to assess the long-term impact of legal status regularization on mental health.

Download Full-text

Eating Disorders in Top Elite Beach Handball Players: Cross Sectional Study

Children ◽

10.3390/children8030245 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 245

Author(s):

Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez ◽

Manuel Vicente-Martínez ◽

Javier Sánchez-Sánchez ◽

Laura Miralles-Amorós ◽

María Martínez-Olcina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Young Adults ◽

Body Composition ◽

Sports Medicine ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Eat 26

(1) Background: The preoccupation with the increasing appearance of eating disorders (ED) in athletes continues to grow, especially in athletes who practice team sports. ED severely affects the eating habits of the athletes, who tend to use unhealthy approaches to control their body weight. The development of nutritional education and early interventions by training staff is essential, and these factors are widely perceived as beneficial in sports medicine. This study evaluates the frequency at which beach handball (BH) players develop ED, also comparing the differences by sex and age (junior: adolescents vs. senior: young adults). In addition, the relation between body composition variables and ED was studied. (2) Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 69 top elite handball players (36 males and 33 females) from the Spanish National BH Team; who were separated by age (junior: adolescents and senior: young adults). The athletes completed the Eating Attitudes Test in its 26 item version (EAT-26). (3) Results: The prevalence of ED indicated that 11% of females had a high possibility of developing an ED, and 3% of males. Regarding the EAT-26 total score and subscales, no significant differences were found between female and male participants, or between the junior and senior categories. The correlations showed an association between body composition, in terms of body mass index, and the EAT-26 total score in both males and females. In the case of males, the correlation was negative. (4) Conclusions: Although there are no significant differences between sex or categories, it has been found that elite athletes are a population that is at high risk of developing ED.

Download Full-text

The Relationship between Restrained Eating, Body Image, and Dietary Intake among University Students in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13030990 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 990

Author(s):

Cuiting Yong ◽

Hanmei Liu ◽

Qiping Yang ◽

Jing Luo ◽

Yufeng Ouyang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Body Image ◽

Body Weight ◽

Dietary Intake ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Restrained Eating ◽

Hunan Province ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Chinese College Students

This study aims to explore the association between restrained eating, body image, and dietary intake among Chinese college students. This cross-sectional study included 1301 college students at two universities in Hunan Province. Electronic questionnaires were used to collect information including students’ demographic characteristics, restrained eating, perception of body weight, body satisfaction, and dietary intake. Anthropometric measurements were collected to calculate body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of high restrained eating was 52.8%. Students who were dissatisfied with their bodies or overestimated their body weight showed a higher tendency toward high restrained eating (p < 0.05). Students with high restrained eating tended to eat fruits and eggs more frequently, while the frequency of eating domestic animals and poultry, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fast food were the opposite. Moreover, high restrained eating was a risk factor for low dietary diversity (odds ratio (OR) = 1.384, 95% confidence interval: 1.002~1.912). The high incidence of restrained eating among Chinese college students and its energy-restricted diets that may lead to possible health implications require attention. Further studies are needed to investigate the characteristics of college students’ restrained eating to tailor appropriate interventions for forming positive body images and promoting healthy eating behaviors, thus, improving dietary quality.

Download Full-text

Percepção da imagem corporal e indicadores antropométricos e de composição corporal associados em idosos

Brazilian Journal of Kinanthropometry and Human Performance ◽

10.5007/1980-0037.2018v20n6p525 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 525-534

Author(s):

Iasmim Batista Correia ◽

Nathalie De Almeida Silva ◽

Paulo Granges e Silva ◽

Tarciana Nobre de Menezes

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Body Image ◽

The Elderly ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

Normal Weight ◽

The Body ◽

Image Perception ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significance Level ◽

Body Image Perception

Aging leads to psychological losses and various physical changes that, associated with body-stereotyped patterns imposed by society, can cause disturbances in the body image perception (BIP) in the elderly. The aim of this study was to evaluate BIP in older adults living in the city of Campina Grande / PB and its relationship with different anthropometric and body composition indicators. This cross-sectional study was carried out with older adults of both sexes enrolled in the Family Health Strategy of Campina Grande, PB. BIP was considered as a dependent variable and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), triceps skinfold (TSF), and arm fat area (AFA) as independent variables. The association between BIP and anthropometric indicators was verified using the Pearson chi-square test (X²), simple and multiple logistic regression, with significance level of p <0.05. Overall, 420 older adults were interviewed (68.1% women), of whom 409 reported their actual body image perception. Regarding the perception of idealized body image, 11 individuals did not respond and 230 were satisfied, since 179 desired another silhouette. Individuals with BMI indicative of overweight / obesity were more likely of showing body image dissatisfaction compared to those with normal weight. Subjects with excessive TSF showed greater body image dissatisfaction in relation to those with normal weight. Women were more likely of showing body image dissatisfaction. Thus, it was observed that variables BMI, TSF and sex were independently associated with body image satisfaction.

Download Full-text