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Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 21, No. 4, 307-314 (2002)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Risk for Disordered Eating Relates to both Gender and Ethnicity for College Students

Sharon L. Hoerr, RD, PhD, Ronda Bokram, RD, MS, Brenda Lugo, Tanya Bivins and Debra R. Keast, MS

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Human Ecology (S.L.H., T.B., D.R.K.), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Olin Health Center, Health Education Department (R.B.), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Office of Supportive Services (B.L.), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Address reprint requests to: Dr. Sharon Hoerr, Michigan State University, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 204 G.M. Trout Bldg., East Lansing, MI, 48824. Email: hoerrs{at}msu.edu

Objective: To estimate the frequency of disordered eating behaviors among college students and associations by gender, ethnicity, participation in social organizations and college athletics and to determine whether responses to eight health behavior and attitude questions and body weight predicted a high score on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-26, a screening instrument used to identify risks of developing an eating disorder.

Methods: Subjects were a convenience sample of 1,899 college students (cleaned to 1620) who attended four classes, were members of 14 sororities or lived in five residence halls. Students reported height and weight and responded to the EAT-26 and eight items regarding health behaviors and attitudes.

Results: Among women and men, 4.5% and 1.4%, respectively, reported previous treatment for an eating disorder, and 10.9% of women and 4.0% of men were at risk for eating disorders (scores >= 20 on EAT). Among African-Americans, 8.3% of women were at risk. One group of women who lived separately in a social sorority had the highest risk of 15%. The frequency of "weight concerns interfering with academic performance" and "eliminating high fat foods" was moderately correlated to risk for disordered eating for both genders. Body mass only weakly related to risk for disordered eating and the association varied by subgroup.

Conclusion: Students at risk for disordered eating report weight concerns interfering with their academic performance and include both men and African-Americans, as well as Caucasian American women. Sorority women living in separate residences might be at increased risk.

Key words: disordered eating, gender, ethnicity, eating behaviors, sorority, athletes, college students, fat, BMI






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Copyright © 2002 by the American College of Nutrition.