Disordered Eating Among a Diverse Sample of First-Year College Students

Abstract

Objective: A cross-sectional study of first-year college students was conducted to identify the prevalence and predictors of disordered eating (DE).

Methods: College freshmen students, aged 18 years, (n = 106) completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and a supplemental survey. A subset of the sample (n = 77) underwent measurements of height, weight, and body composition. DE was defined as an elevated (3) weight, shape, eating concern, or dietary restraint EDE-Q subscale score.

Results: The sample, consisting of 56.6%, 15.1%, 11.3%, and 11.3% Latino/a, Asian, African American, and Caucasian students, respectively (37% male), reported a 31.1% prevalence of DE. The current desire to lose weight was the strongest predictor of DE (odds ratio = 15.3; 95% confidence interval = 2.8, 82.5). Other variables linked to DE or elevated EDE-Q subscale scores included body mass index (BMI) 25.0 kg/m², vegetarianism, weight loss in the past year, female gender, and eating breakfast < 5 d/wk. Participants with BMI 25.0 kg/m² and the current desire to lose weight (n = 23) or following a vegetarian diet (n = 5) exhibited the highest prevalence of DE (78.3% and 80.0%, respectively). A higher proportion of Latinas reported binge episodes compared to female Caucasian, Asian, and African American students (36.4% vs. 0.0%, 6.7%, and 28.6%, respectively, p = 0.056, χ² = 7.6). Males, versus females, were more likely to report excessive exercise (56.4% vs. 37.3%, p = 0.056, χ² = 3.6).

Conclusions: This study adds to the current body of literature on DE by providing a diverse sample and potentially novel predictors and risk factors for DE.

Keywords:

• Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
• dietary restraint
• weight loss
• vegetarianism
• diet

Acknowledgements

This research was supported, in part, through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) grant #8TL4GM118980-02. MB served as the study primary investigator and coordinated all aspects of the study. MTB and JW were involved in the data analysis and manuscript preparation. MC and A-MP-V led the study recruitment and data collection. All authors reviewed and edited the manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.