The role of specific dieting practices in the development of eating disorders

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dieting practices and the development of eating disorder symptomology in dieting female college students. A self-report questionnaire on dieting practices was administered at the beginning and end of the academic year to 179 dieting women (Age: 21 ± 3 years (mean ± SD); Wt: 62.5 ±11.7 kg; Ht: 165.3 ± 7.1 cm; BMI: 22.8 ± 3.5 kg/m2). A Food Frequency Questionnaire was administered at baseline. Data were obtained on the duration of dieting, methods used to lose weight, the macronutrient intake, restrictiveness of the diet, and the rate of weight lost/week dieting. Eating disorder symptomology was measured by the Health Information Questionnaire (HIQ) and was assessed based on DSM-IV criteria for eating disorders. Responses to the HIQ yielded an overall Symptom Intensity Score (SIS). Subjects with probable eating disorders at baseline were excluded from the analyses. Correlations were observed between the SIS and age at first diet (baseline: r = -.31, p<.01; 6 months: r = -.20, p<.01) and baseline long-term dieting (r = .16, p<.05). Of the dieting methods, correlations between the SIS and Food Avoidance (baseline: r= .51, p<.001; 6 months: r=.49, p<.001), Fat & Calorie Counting (baseline: r= .31, p<.001; 6 months: r=.30, p<.001), Use of Diet Aids (baseline: r= .27, p<.001; 6 months: r=.22, p<.01), and Number of Dieting Methods (baseline: r= .60, p<.001; 6 months: r=.49, p<.001) were also observed. A correlation between carbohydrate intake and Change in SIS was observed (r=-.16, p<.05). Restrictiveness of the diet did not correlate with SIS. However, rate of weight loss correlated with the SIS (baseline: r= .314, p<.01; 6 months: r=.332, p<.01). None of the dieting variables had a significant influence on the prediction of SIS; only 1-5% of the variance in the SIS was explained by the variables examined in this study. These results suggest that specific dieting practices may not predict disordered eating but may be associated with some disturbed eating practices. Further consideration of the frequency of dieting, rate of weight loss and the methods used to lose weight may be warranted as these dieting practices may perpetuate dieting and disturbed eating behaviours.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat