Eating attitudes and Eating Disorders Risk and

Behavior among University Students:

Basis for Campus Campaign Program

ANDAL, CHANTELE KIM A.

LUNGCA, ALYSSA MARIE D.
SADORRA, ALLISON MAE Q.
SANTOS, CARL WILSON A.

BSN 4-1

.
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study

Food gives our bodies the energy we need to function. Engagement in eating every day
is a matter of survival for humans. One has to make choices about what to eat, when,
and how much to intake. Eating fundamentally becomes a rewarding behavior, that
satisfies a physiologic need, and is thus intrinsically linked to mood and emotions. Eating
attitudes can be defined as beliefs, thoughts, feelings, behavior and relationship with
food. They can influence people's food choices and health status (chanty dito mo input
yung sa article)
People nowadays are consuming more food to provide energy for their daily living. Some
people eat food more than usual because of the energy required to their work. Students
more likely prone for eating more than the usual because it requires more energy to
study different subjects especially college students because they are preparing for their
own future. Students dont notice that they are eating more and more day by day and yet
they dont even recognize it. This is because their mindset is on studying and finishing
the task in every day so they just need to satisfy their hunger and refocus themselves to
the task. this may show that awareness of eating attitude and risk of developing eating
disorder are not well known yet at our university.
Eating disorders are classified as a mental illness, associated with significant physical,
psychological and social consequences which should not be neglected. It occurs in both
males and females, from children to older adults, but prominently in adolescents. Within
its wide demographic, there are some age groups that are at a high level of risk.
Moreover those who are in the transitional age of studying in universities,
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila is home to the citys scholars.
Most of the researchers sought the need to assess the universitys eating attitudes and
identify those who are at risk of developing eating disorders. When they have
encountered eating disorders in their psychiatric nursing, they have tried assessing
themselves using the Eating Attitude Test-26. 3 out of 4 researchers have been
assessed to have had an abnormal eating attitude and that imposes risk in developing
eating disorders in the long term. One researcher has had an engagement in eating
disorder behaviors like using laxatives for 3 -5 times a month. This lead to the
development of the continuous search to know more about their own health, especially
towards their eating attitudes.
The researchers initial tool is health promotion. Screening has the potential for allowing
early identification of eating disorders and this can lead to earlier treatment which has
been shown to lead to a more favorable prognosis. Primary preventive measures are
designed to maximize early detection and treatment for people with symptoms of eating
disorders.
Intervention depends on early detection of symptoms. For many people with eating
disorders, their first attempt at seeking treatment is a test of attitudes and responses. If
the first help seeking is a positive experience, then the person is more likely to engage
successfully with future treatment.

Statement of the Problem

The focus of this study is to determine the eating attitude and risk of
developing an eating disorder among university students using the result of their
Eating Attitude Test, as a basis for campus campaign program.
Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following question:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of the following variables;
1.1Gender
1.2 Body Mass Index
1.3 Educational Course
1.4 Socioeconomic factors
2. What are the eating attitudes of the respondents in terms of
2.2 Dieting
2.3 Bulimia and Food Preoccupation
2.4 Oral Control
3. To what extent is the risk of the respondents on developing an eating
disorder?
4. To what extent does the respondents engage in eating disorder behavior?
5. Is there a significant difference on the risk of developing eating disorder
among the respondents as they are grouped according to profile?

6. Is there a significant difference on the engagement in eating disorder

behavior among the respondents as they are grouped according to
profile?
7. Based on the results of the study, what is the focus of the campus
campaign program that can be possibly developed?

Hypothesis
At 0.05 level of significance, the following hypotheses will be tested:
HO1: There is no significant difference on the risk of developing eating
disorder among the respondents as they grouped according to profile.
HO2: Is there a significant difference on the engagement in eating disorder
behavior among the respondents as they grouped according to profile.

Significance of the Study

Specifically, this research will benefit the following group of individuals
Students. This study will greatly benefit the students to gain knowledge
and awareness regarding eating disorders. The developed program will serve as
a primary intervention by helping them adopt in healthy eating habits.
School Administrators. The result of this study will help the school
administrators to motivate on implementing eating disorder- related programs in
the campus and to improve food access of university canteen.

University Clinic. The results of this study will greatly help the university
clinic to establish a support network and improve health services that will assess
and treat eating disorders among university students.
Future Researchers. This research may serve as the basis for measuring
the implementation of the eating disorder campaign program and its
effectiveness. This may also be a guide to conduct more studies on eating
attitudes and eating disorders.

CONCEPTUAL PARADIGM

Campus campaign program

Extent of Risk on developing
an eating disorder

University Students

Gender
Body mass index
Educational course
Socio economic factors

Eating attitudes

Dieting
Bulimia and food
preoccupation
Oral control
Extent of engagement in
eating disorder behavior

Topical Presentation

II
III

Eating Attitudes
1.1. Dieting
1.2. Bulimia and Food Preoccupation
1.3. Oral Control
Eating Disorder Behavior
Eating Attitudes and Disorders among University Students
3.1. Gender
3.2 BMI
3.3 Educational Course
3.4 Socioeconomic Status

IV

Campus Campaign Program on Eating Attitudes and Disorders