Statistical prevalence of disordered eating among female dietetic students compared to other female college majors

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of disordered eating among female dietetic students compared to female students in other college majors. The sample composed of 87 female students in classrooms at a private college in western New York. The following majors were utilized: dietetics, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, and physician assistant. The Eating Attitudes Test-26 was administered to the subjects. Mean scores on the test for the groups were compared using ANOVA. No significant difference between majors was found in total mean scores from EAT-26, but 15% of students scored as eating disorder risks. The results suggest that eating disorder risks are high in college-aged students regardless of major.