Body esteem and eating behaviours in female physical education students

Certain university majors appear to be at greater risk of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. The present study sought to examine self esteem, body satisfaction, and disordered eating in a sample of year one and year three female physical education students, and to compare them to a matched sample of non-physical education females. Year three, but not year one physical education females, reported greater rates of disorder eating, but lower global self esteem, than non-physical education females. Dissatisfaction with sexual attractiveness, physical condition, and weight, were significantly related to disordered eating behaviours. Further research needs to be conducted with university majors that place a high premium on physical form and ability.