title: The relationship between dietary intake and energy availability, eating attitudes and cognitive restraint in students enrolled in undergraduate nutrition degrees.
abstract: The aim of this research was to explore the relationship of total energy and macronutrient intake, energy balance and energy availability to eating attitudes and cognitive restraint in students enrolled in undergraduate nutrition degrees. Energy and micronutrient intake was assessed in 63 students (n = 50 nutrition, and n = 13 occupation therapy degrees; n = 51 females, n = 12 males) using three 24-h dietary recalls. Energy requirements were calculated based on measured resting metabolic rate, estimated exercise energy expenditure, and dietary induced thermogenesis. Body composition was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Eating attitudes and cognitive restraint were measured using previously validated tools. Eighteen percent of nutrition students were classified as having low energy availability (<30 kcal kgFFM-1d-1) and 38% were in negative energy balance. Eating attitudes and cognitive restraint were not associated with total energy or macronutrient intake. However, female nutrition students with high cognitive restraint had greater exercise energy expenditure and thus lower energy availability than those with low cognitive restraint (371 (302) kcal d-1compared to 145 (206) kcal d-1, P < 0.01, and 35 (7) kcal d-1compared to 41 (10) kcal d-1of fat free mass, P = 0.005). Additionally, in females, disordered eating attitudes and cognitive restraint negatively correlated with energy availability (rs= -0.37, P = 0.02 and rs= -0.51, P < 0.01 respectively). There were no differences in outcomes between nutrition and non-nutrition students. The current study suggests that those students with disordered eating attitudes and cognitive restraint may be controlling their energy balance through exercise, as opposed to restricting food intake.
authors: School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558 Australia. Electronic address: tetyanarocks@gmail.com.
authors: Tetyana
authors: T
authors: Rocks
authors: School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558 Australia. Electronic address: fpeely@usc.edu.au.
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Pelly
authors: School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558 Australia. Electronic address: gslater@usc.edu.au.
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: Slater
authors: School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4558 Australia. Electronic address: Lisa.Martin@usc.edu.au.
authors: Lisa Anne
authors: LA
authors: Martin
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive restraint; Eating attitudes; Energy availability; Energy balance; Energy intake