Disordered eating and weight control behaviors among male and female university students

The purposes of this study were to develop an instrument capable of assessing factors potentially related to disordered eating and weight control behaviors among university students and then to compare male and female students on these factors. A 90 item instrument was developed. Sixty-four items were written by these authors, such that eight items would assess each of eight identified factors related to disordered eating. Additionally, all 26 items from the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) were included and interspersed within the instrument. The instrument was administered to 502 female university students and their responses were factor analyzed. Ten factors were identified. The instrument was then administered to 94 female and 76 male university students. Results indicate that compared to males, females report a greater desire to be thin, less tolerance for cold, more frequent use of laxatives, and a greater occurrence of eating in response to internal and external cues. There were no other sex differences. The students in this study appeared to be engaging in appropriate health practices.