Anorexic eating attitudes and behaviors of male and female college students

This study examined gender differences in eating attitudes and behaviors in a sample of 471 undergraduate college students. The prevalence of symptoma tology indicative of anorexia was determined using the Eating Attitudes Tes t (EAT-26). In addition, the family climate, parent-child dynamics, and sel f-concept of students with and without maladaptive eating attitudes and beh aviors were compared, and the relationship between eating attitudes/behavio rs and current psychological distress was examined. Anorexic symptomatology was found for 20% of the females and 10% of the males. In general, student s without symptomatic attitudes and behaviors had a more positive self-conc ept and reported less psychological distress than did those with eating dis turbances. The findings suggest that eating problems may be more prevalent among males than previously estimated.