Nutr Res Pract.  2014 Dec;8(6):713-718. 10.4162/nrp.2014.8.6.713.

High tendency to the substantial concern on body shape and eating disorders risk of the students majoring Nutrition or Sport Sciences

• Nergiz-Unal R
• Bilgic P
• Yabanci N

• KMID: 2313799
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2014.8.6.713

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Studies have indicated that university students majoring in nutrition and dietetics or sport sciences may have more obsessions associated with eating attitudes and body shape perception compared to other disciplines i.e. social sciences. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the risk of eating disorders and body shape perception.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Data was collected from 773 undergraduate students at the Departments of Nutrition and Dietetics (NDD) (n = 254), Physical Education and Sports (PESD) (n = 263), and Social Sciences (SOC) (n = 256).A socio-demographic and personal information questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34), Perceived Figure Rating Scale (FRS) were applied; and body weights and heights were measured.
RESULTS
Mean EAT-40 scores showed that, both male and female students of PESD had the highest scores (17.4 +/- 11.6) compared with NDD (14.3 +/- 8.3) and SOC (13.0 +/- 6.2) (P < 0.05). According to EAT-40 classification, high risk in abnormal eating behavior was more in PESD (10.7%) compared to NDD (2.9%) and SOC (0.4%) students (P < 0.05). Students of PESD, who skipped meal, had higher tendency to the risk of eating disorders (P < 0.05). In parallel, body shape perception was found to be marked with higher scores in NDD (72.0 +/- 28.7) and PESD (71.5 +/- 32.8) compared with SOC (64.2 +/- 27.5) students (P < 0.05). Considering BSQ-34 classification, high concern (moderate and marked) for body shape were more in PESD (7.4 %) compared to NDD (5.2%) and SOC (1.9%) students (P < 0.05). The body size judgement via obtained by the FRS scale were generally correlated with BMI. The Body Mass Index levels were in normal range (Mean BMI: 21.9 +/- 2.8 kg/m2) and generally consistent with FRS data.
CONCLUSIONS
Tendency to the abnormal eating behavior and substantial body shape perception were higher in PESD students who have more concern on body shape and were not well-educated about nutrition. In conclusion, substantial concern on physical appearance might affect eating behavior disorders in PESD students.

Keyword

Physical appearance; body shape; university student; eating attitude; body image

MeSH Terms

Affect
Body Image
Body Mass Index
Body Size
Body Weight
Classification
Dietetics
Eating
Feeding and Eating Disorders*
Feeding Behavior
Female
Humans
Male
Meals
Mental Disorders
Obsessive Behavior
Physical Education and Training
Surveys and Questionnaires
Reference Values
Social Sciences
Sports*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 High risk in abnormal eating behavior and high concern with body shape were estimated in the students of Sport Sciences followed by Nutrition. Comparison of the eating disorders risk estimated from Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) (A, B) and concern on body shape estimated from Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34) (C, D). The students showing high risk of eating disorders predicted via EAT-40 (B), high concern on body shape predicted via BSQ-34. Data is presented as percentage (%) of the participants according to the classification with cut offs (*P < 0.05). NDD, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics; PESD, Department of Physical Education and Sports; SOC, Department of Social Sciences.

• 

  Fig. 2 The Body Mass Index levels were in normal range and consistent with Figure Rating Scale. Mean BMI values (kg/m2) were calculated and presented for each body imagechosen by participants as they feel about their body sizeand shape [23,24]. Data are for females (A) and males (B). Images 1&2 represent underweight; images 3&4 appropriate weight; images 5&6 slightly overweight; images 7&8 moderately overweight and image 9 very overweight body size. NDD, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics; PESD, Department of Physical Education and Sports; SOC, Department of Social Sciences; EAT-40, Eating Attitudes Test; BSQ-34, Body Shape Questionnaire; FRS, Perceived Figure Rating Scale; BMI, Body Mass Index; ND, Not Defined.

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