The prevalence of eating disorders in female health care students

Previous research has suggested a raised prevalence of eating disorders amongst female medical students. This study aimed to test the belief, commonly held by occupational physicians, that there is also an increased prevalence of eating disorders amongst female applicants to nurse training. If correct, it implies the need for additional support and may predict increased failure to complete the course. Three groups of female students were compared: applicants to a university nurse training course, first-year medical students and a comparison group of first-year university students on courses not related to health care. Possible eating disorders were identified using two self-report instruments, the EAT-26 and the BITE questionnaires, and the body mass index. No significant statistical difference was found in the prevalence of eating disorders between the three groups, using the above measures. After controlling for age and ethnicity, 20% of the nurse applicants were found to have disordered eating patterns meriting further investigation, compared with 19% of medical students and 21% of arts students. The nursing students are being followed up to compare the progress of those with and without disordered eating patterns.