Abstract
The purpose of the following study was to examine the relationship between participation in athletic and exercise activities and eating disordered behavior among a college student population. A sample of 853 undergraduate students completed the EAT-26 and indicated participation in athletic activities to determine eating disorder-related dieting and exercise attitudes and behaviors. Results demonstrate that participation in recreational activities correlates with more deleterious attitudes than involvement in organized sports. Implications for counseling and prevention are discussed.
This research was conducted by the Eating Disorders Task Force at Ohio University. The purpose of the research was to document trends on campus, educate the administration and university community about eating disorders, and to support the need to hire additional personnel to address the needs of students with issues of body image and eating disorders. The contributions of those who gave their time to develop, implement, and review the results of the study are greatly appreciated.