Normative data on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire for samples of undergraduate men in the United States are presented. Participants were 404 undergraduate men aged 18–26 who completed the EDE-Q as part of two larger survey studies. Mean scores, standard deviations, and percentile ranks for the Global score and four subscale scores are provided. Data regarding the frequency of objective binge eating episodes and compensatory behaviors also are reported. Although the overall prevalence of full threshold eating disorders remains lower in men than in women, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors are fairly common among young men. These results will help researchers and clinicians interpret the EDE-Q scores of undergraduate men.
The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q; Fairburn and Beglin, 1994 and Fairburn and Beglin, 2008b), derived from the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview (Fairburn and Cooper, 1993 and Fairburn et al., 2008) is one of the most widely utilized self-report measures of disordered eating. The EDE-Q is a popular alternative to the EDE, due in part to the extensive training required to administer the EDE and the substantial resources needed to assess large samples (Luce et al., 2008 and Wilfley et al., 1997). Numerous studies have revealed good convergence of the EDE and EDE-Q in community and clinical samples (Binford et al., 2005, Grilo et al., 2001, Mond et al., 2004 and Wilfley et al., 1997), although individuals tend to endorse higher rates of objective binge eating on the EDE-Q (Fairburn and Beglin, 1994 and Wolk et al., 2005).
Normative data are necessary for appropriate interpretation of scores on measures such as the EDE-Q. While norms for the EDE-Q among adolescent girls and women are available, (Carter et al., 2001, Luce et al., 2008 and Mond et al., 2006), norms for young men have not been published. Although the prevalence of full threshold bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa remains lower in men than women, the gender difference in the prevalence of binge eating disorder is comparatively small (Striegel-Moore & Franko, 2003). Furthermore, many young men report body dissatisfaction, which may place them at risk for disordered eating (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2004).
Men with eating disorders have been the focus of numerous studies. For example, Braun, Sunday, Huang and Halmi (1999) reported on a sample of men and women admitted to an inpatient eating disorder service over a thirteen-year period. Overall, the authors noted that men and women were more similar than dissimilar in terms of core eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. Results from other studies support this notion and suggest that men and women exhibit comparable eating disorder symptoms, though they may differ in psychiatric comorbidity and in the frequency of certain compensatory behaviors (Carlat et al., 1997, Olivardia et al., 1995, Striegel-Moore et al., 2009 and Woodside et al., 2001).
Studies have reported that the average age of onset of eating disorders in men is approximately 19–20 years (Braun et al., 1999 and Carlat et al., 1997), suggesting that college-aged men may be at risk for developing eating disorders. Undergraduate men involved in athletic activities that stress weight control (e.g., wrestling) may be particularly vulnerable (Braun et al., 1999). The aim of the present research was therefore to provide EDE-Q norms for undergraduate men, which may be useful to researchers and clinicians seeking to assess eating pathology among members of this population.
