Prevalence of Nervous Bulimia Symptoms, Unsatisfactory Body Image and Nutritional Conditions in University Nutrition Courses

  • Cristiani Saldeira Centro Universitário de Maringá - CESUMAR
  • Angela Andréia França Gravena CESUMAR- Centro Universitário de Maringá
Keywords: Nervous Bulimia, Body Image, Nutritional Conditions, Female Students

Abstract

Current analysis verified the prevalence of nervous bulimia symptoms and their association with unsatisfactory body image and nutritional conditions. The cross-section analysis evaluated 47 female university students of the Nutrition Course in a private university by the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE) and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Nutritional state was evaluated by the Body Mass Index (BMI) which showed that 78.7% had adequate nutritional conditions. BITE revealed that 44.7% of the students tended towards the development of nervous bulimia whereas BSQ demonstrated that 48.9% had some type of body image distortion. Research revealed that there was a significant co-relationship (p=0.0031) between BMI and BSQ, or rather, overweight students had body image distortion, and between BITE and BSQ (p=0.0001), or rather, the higher the lack of satisfaction with body image, the higher the trend towards nervous bulimia. Results show that monitoring and prevention measures should be performed by the population under analysis to avoid that the nutritionists in their professional practice jeopardize the efficiency of clinical attendance due to established syndromes or precursory behaviors.

Author Biographies

Cristiani Saldeira, Centro Universitário de Maringá - CESUMAR
Acadêmica do curso de Nutrição do Centro Universitário de Maringá – CESUMAR; E-mail: cristianisaldeira@ibest.com.br
Angela Andréia França Gravena, CESUMAR- Centro Universitário de Maringá
Nutrição Clínica
Published
2012-09-11
Section
Artigos Originais