Are Nutrition and Dietetics Students More Prone to Eating Disorders Related Attitudes and Comorbid Depression and Anxiety than Non-Dietetics Students?

It was aimed to investigate the eating attitudes and its relationships with anxiety and depression at Nutrition and Dietetics students. Students of Nutrition and Dietetics Departments were included in study group (n: 135) and non-medical students (n: 69) were in control group. Eating attitudes test (EAT-40), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to all students and some anthropometric measurements were taken. Body mass index (BMI) and percent of body fat were higher at students in study group than students in control group. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to EAT, BDI and BAI scores. But, BMI and body fat percentage in girls were significantly lower than boys. Both EAT and BDI scores were significantly higher in girls than boys but BAI scores did not differ significantly. It was concluded that students training on Nutrition and Dietetics might have obsessions related to body image. But results of this study revealed that especially young women were more susceptible to eating disorders and depression.