Eating Disorders Risk and Intuitive Eating Behavior Among Brazilian Military College Students

Abstract

This study analyzed the attitudes related to eating and determine the prevalence of risk of developing eating disorders (ED) among military students. A secondary objective was to compare prevalence between demographic data and establish the effect of intuitive eating and exercise practice on ED risk. A sample of 256 male military undergraduate and graduate students at the School of Physical Education of the Army answered the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Intuitive Eating Scale 2 (IES-2) questionnaires, as well questions regarding age, marital status, the military branch in the Brazilian Army, self-reported body mass and stature, and level of physical activity (Kasari Fit Index). A Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess factor scores of EAT- 26 and IES-2 total scores among the intensity of self-reported physical activity. A multiple linear regression analysis (forward method) was performed to investigate the extent to which the intuitive eating factors impacted eating disorders risk. Results showed that 4.9% of military students were at risk of developing an ED. Significant difference was found for frequency of exercise practice for EAT total score (U=4375.5, p=0.04, r=0.14) and at UPE (U=3988.5, p=0.005, r=0.19). No significant differences were observed within EAT-26 scores among demographic data. Intuitive eating factors (UPE, BFCC and EPR) showed a significant influence on ED attitudes (F(3, 228)=39.78, p< 0.001; R2adjusted=0.27). In conclusion these findings pointed to a high prevalence of ED risk in military students, and that intuitive eating had a protective impact; however, the practice of exercise does not seem to influence it.

Keywords

• intuitive eating
• eating behaviour
• physical activity practice
• exercise
• food