A pilot study was carried out in university students to evaluate the effect of a health promotion program for eating disturbances and body dissatisfaction. A subgroup of 135 medical students of both sexes in their second year was selected. There were divided in three groups, high-risk students (EDI > 40) and low-risk students (EDI < 40) who participated in the program and nonparticipants as comparison group. Program had a total of 16 workshops of 90 min. A year later the different assessment measurements were compared, body image, attitudes and eating behaviours, psychopathological levels and self-esteem. Differences by gender were found on the impact of the intervention. The program presented a statistical significant improvement in body-image satisfaction, eating attitudes only in high-risk female students in the intervention group. This pilot program for eating disorder prevention in university populations can be considered effective, mainly in female populations at risk for developing an eating disorder.
Epidemiological studies on eating disorders (EDs) report that they are relevant illnesses in young females and adolescents (Ruíz et al., 1998; Perez-Gaspar, Gual, Irala-Estevez, Martinez-Gonzalez, Lahortiga, & Cervera, 2000; Woodside et al., 2001). A recent study reports that the prevalence rate for eating disorders in adolescent girls (15–18 years) in Spain was 3.7% with EDNOS showing the highest frequency (2.1%). In addition, 7.6% of the population are subthreshold cases that must be added to the previous rates (Gandarillas, Zorrilla, Sepulveda, & Munoz, 2003).
Therefore, it was expected that university populations would present similar or higher prevalence rates. We have encountered few rigorous epidemiological studies focused on this population (Anstine & Grinenko, 2000; Drewnowski, Hopkins, & Kessler, 1988); however, all of them agree on reports of high prevalence rates for anorexic and bulimic behaviours such as self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, cycles of binge eating and dieting, to control weight and/or body shape (Sepulveda, Carrobles, & Gandarillas, 2006; Lameiras, Calado, Rodriguez, & Fernandez, 2002). According to these studies, a considerable number of female students can be considered to be at high-risk of developing an eating disorder, which in turn is difficult to treat and can have severe psychological and physical consequences (Agras, 1993, Drewnowski et al., 1988 and Mann et al., 1997). Females are also far more regularly exposed to social situations that cause body dissatisfaction and shape high-risk attitudes and behaviours (Lavin & Cash, 2001; Levine, Smolak, & Hayden, 1994).
