Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

UAF Access Only - 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

Dr. Kelly Way

Second Committee Member

Nancy Buckley

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating habits have been widely documented among college students. Emerging evidence has begun to suggest that students studying in nutritionrelated fields may be at an increased risk due to their heightened awareness of health, body image, and the professional expectations placed on them. The purpose of this study was to describe body image perceptions and assess the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among junior and senior Nutrition students at the University of Arkansas. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, participants completed the Body Shape Questionnaire-16B (BSQ 16-B) through an anonymous, online survey. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Participants had a mean total score of 42.00 (SD = 17.12), this indicates a mild body dissatisfaction overall. However, the high variability in scores, ranging from 21 to 75, shows that 50% of participants fell within the low concern threshold, 33% fell within mild concern, and the remaining 17% were categorized as exhibiting marked concern. These findings suggest that although the overall body dissatisfaction was low, a smaller group within the sample showed increased risk for negative body image and its related behaviors. These results support existing literature that indicates nutrition students to be at higher risk due to the unique pressures placed on them regarding overall their health, nutrition habits, and body image. Future research should aim to sample large and more diverse populations. Additionally, developing targeted interventions to promote a positive body image among students and support their overall well-being within nutrition programs is a great start to mitigating the identified problem.

Keywords

Nutrition, Body Image, Disordered Eating Behaviors, Body Dissatisfaction

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