title: University courses, eating problems and muscle dysmorphia: are there any associations?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orthorexia and muscle dysmorphia are disorders affecting above all young adults whose prevalence and social impact are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the traits of orthorexia and muscle dysmorphia among freshmen attending university courses focused on nutrition (Dietetics) and body care (Exercise and Sport Sciences). Students of Biology were considered as a control group. The prevalence of eating disorder (ED) traits were also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants (n = 440; n = 53 Dietetics school, n = 200 Exercise and Sport Sciences school, n = 187 the Biology school) completed the following questionnaires: ORTO-15, Muscle-Dysmorphic-Disorder-Inventory, and Eating Attitudes Test-26.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the traits of EDs, orthorexia, and muscle dysmorphia was 9.1%, 25.9%, and 5.9%, respectively. When compared to other students, those attending the Dietetics school showed a 2-fold higher risk of EDs and those from the Exercise and Sport Sciences school a 10-fold higher risk of muscle dysmorphia. The prevalence of orthorexia traits was high in all schools (35.9%, 22.5%, 26.5% in Dietetics, Biology, and Exercise and Sport Sciences schools, respectively). Overall, individuals with traits of any of these disorders were more frequently on diet or on supplement use. In a logistic regression model, attending the Dietetics school (OR = 2.71; 95% CI 1.14-6.48) was significantly associated with the ED traits, but not with the orthorexia traits (OR = 1.75; 95% CI 0.93-3.29), while attending the Exercise and Sport Sciences school was significantly associated with the muscle dysmorphia traits (OR = 5.15; 95% CI 1.44-18.4). Finally, when evaluating the relationships among the types of study programs as dependent variables and traits of these disturbances, the associations between the traits of ED (OR = 3.35; 95% CI 1.38-8.13) and matriculation at the school of Dietetics, and between the traits of muscle dysmorphia (OR = 4.32; 95% CI 1.16-16.1) and the choice of the Exercise and Sport Sciences school were confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The choice of the university courses might be influenced by pre-existing disorders in eating behaviors, which were relatively frequent in the considered sample.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zoccali
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ponzo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soldati
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benso
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fea
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rainoldi
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durazzo
authors.forename: Secondo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fassino
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbate-Daga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004522:Educational Status; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
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