Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Innovation

Advisor/Mentor

Mallori Roberts

Committee Member

Nancy Buckley

Second Committee Member

Kelly Way

Abstract

Disordered eating (DE) is a prevalent concern among college students and may be particularly relevant among nutrition and dietetics students due to their academic focus on food, weight, and health. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and frequency of disordered eating behaviors among junior and senior Human Nutrition and Dietetics students at the University of Arkansas using item-level responses from the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS). A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected via an anonymous online survey (n = 11). Descriptive statistics were used to examine the frequency of specific behaviors. Overall, most participants reported low-frequency engagement in overt disordered eating behaviors, such as fasting and compensatory behaviors. However, higher-frequency responses were observed for weight-related concerns, with 54.5% of participants reporting a strong desire to lose weight on most days. Additionally, all participants reported some level of body dissatisfaction. These findings suggest that while severe behavioral symptoms may be limited, cognitive and emotional aspects of disordered eating, particularly weight concern and body dissatisfaction, are prevalent in this population. Given the potential implications for both personal well-being and future professional practice, these results highlight the need for increased awareness, early identification, and supportive interventions within nutrition education programs. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is warranted.

Keywords

Disordered eating, Nutrition students, Body dissatisfaction, EDE-QS, Prevalence, Body image, College students

Download

Share

COinS