Disturbed eating behaviours and associated psychographic characteristics of college students

Abstract

Background: Young adulthood is a stressful transition period that may increase the risk for disturbed eating, especially for college students. The present study aimed to explore disturbed eating behaviours and a broad array of associated psychographic characteristics in a large, diverse sample of college students. Methods: College students (n = 2604; 58% white; 63% female) enrolled at three large, public US universities in 2009 and 2010 were recruited to take an online survey. The survey included reliable and valid disturbed eating behaviour and associated psychographic characteristic measures. Results: Many participants engaged in disturbed eating practices. For example, one-quarter of women and one-fifth of men engaged in dietary restraint. One in seven reported regularly binge eating. One-third used inappropriate compensatory behaviours (self-induced vomiting, medicine misuse and excessive exercise) as a means for controlling weight and/or shape, with the rate of these behaviours reaching clinically significant levels for 4%, 3% and 5% of participants, respectively. Examination of psychographic characteristics revealed that one-fifth had moderate levels of depression and anxiety severity and almost half engaged in at least one obsessive-compulsive disorder type behaviour. Females felt under more pressure to attain the media physical appearance standard than males. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that nutrition education interventions for college students may be needed to address disturbed eating behaviours and to provide guidance on how to seek professional help. The findings also suggest that it may be prudent for healthcare professionals to routinely screen college students for disturbed eating behaviours and offer interventions early when treatment is likely to be most effective.

Disordered Eating in First Year University Students - A Qualitative Study Exploring Student and Supportive Service Needs

“…Background Disordered eating represents an over focus on body shape and weight reflecting in conditions marked by abnormal and disrupted attitudes to food and patterns of eating [1,2]. Evidence suggests that adolescence and early adulthood are the most vulnerable times to develop disordered eating patterns and predominantly those affected are young women aged 15-25 years [3][4][5].…”

“…The first year as an undergraduate university student can be significantly stressful [2,[10][11][12]. We also know that stress may contribute to, or trigger patterns of disordered eating [4,13].…”

“…The use of the term 'disordered eating' is possibly less pathologising and stigmatising than the use of the term 'eating disorder' and the connotations that may attached to this. The term disordered eating can reflect more the spectrum of disturbed eating patterns evident to the researcher during the course of the study and in reviewing the collective narrative from discussion.The first year as an undergraduate university student can be significantly stressful [2,[10][11][12]. We also know that stress may contribute to, or trigger patterns of disordered eating [4,13].…”

Gender Differences in Body Mass Index, Body Weight Perception, weight satisfaction, disordered eating and Weight control strategies among Indian Medical and Nursing Undergraduates

“…Eating disorders are the common psychiatric illnesses with a persistent disturbance in eating patterns or other behaviors intended to control weight, body size or shape. (1) Eating disorders also affect physical and nutritional health, psychological functioning and if untreated, they can be fatal. (2) Earlier studies have shown that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.…”

Night eating syndrome and emotional states in university students

“…The transition from late adolescence to early adulthood is a critical time for adopting inadequate eating patterns 15 . Consequently, they have a high frequency of eating disorders, particularly those involving compulsive behaviors 16 . In addition, some of the syndrome components are common among college students.…”