Abstract
The university stage is a critical developmental period for young adults, where
lifestyles can determine future health. A cross-sectional study including 481
college students was conducted, with the following objectives: 1) to examine the
prevalence of risk of developing eating disorders in college students, 2) to
assess differences in obesity and physical fitness in those with and without
risk of eating disorders, and 3) to determine whether cardiorespiratory fitness,
muscular fitness or fat mass were associated with the risk of eating disorders.
We measured fat mass percentage (by densitometry), risk of feeding or eating
disorders (by SCOFF questionnaire), cardiorespiratory fitness levels and a
muscular fitness index. The prevalence of risk of eating disorders in women
(32.4%) was higher than in men (17.4%) (p<0.001). In
both sexes, higher obesity indicator mean values were observed among those who
were at risk of eating disorders. Men participants without risk had higher
cardiorespiratory fitness means than their at-risk peers [39.4 (8.3) vs. 32.4
(5.5), p<0.001)], and women showed differences only in the
dynamometry/weight variable. In college students, it is necessary to
promote healthy habits, including good levels of physical fitness, and to
prevent excess body fat to effectively prevent eating disorders.
Keywords
SCOFF - cardiorespiratory fitness - muscular fitness - college students - body composition
