Resumen

BEHAR A, Rosa; ALVINA W, Marcela; MEDINELLI S, Angelina  y  TAPIA T, Priscilla. EATING DISORDERS SYMPTOMS AMONG FEMALE NUTRITION AND DIETETIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. Rev. chil. nutr. [online]. 2007, vol.34, n.4, pp. 298-306. ISSN 0717-7518.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-75182007000400003.

Background: Several studies report eating disorder symptoms among nutrition and dietetic students and among dieticians. Objective: To estimate the presence of eating disorder symptoms among female nutrition and dietetic students at the University of Valparaíso. Material and Methods: The Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) were administered to 123 freshman, sophomore, junior and senior nutrition and dietetic students. Their mean age was 20 year 9 months old. Results: Nutrition and dietetic students had the same risk (15%) as others students of suffering an eating disorder behavior and the nutritional status was not associated to the risk of developing eating disorder symptoms. Body dissatisfaction (p=0.01), drive for thinness (p=0.01), maturity fears and perfectionism (p=0.05) were the most prevalent symptoms measured by EDI. A greater tendency towards the development of an anorexic more than a bulimic symptomatology was detected. Conclusion: The results contribute to the knowledge of eating disorders, considered as emerging pathologies, especially within vulnerable groups

Palabras clave : Eating disorder; behaviour; EAT-40; EDI; nutrition and dietetic students; risk.