Everyday discrimination is a stronger predictor of eating competence than food insecurity or perceived stress in college students amidst COVID-19.

Stress is a common experience of college students, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19. Perceived stress may help predict students' eating behaviors. Eating competence is an adaptive model of eating characterized as being flexible, comfortable, and positive with food and eating, and reliable about getting enough nourishing and enjoyable food to eat. Eating competence is associated with numerous health benefits and may be developing and/or disrupted as young adults transition to college. No prior research has explored the associations of everyday discrimination and food insecurity with eating competence, and there is limited research on the eating competence of trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) college students. This cross-sectional study sought to examine the associations of everyday discrimination, food insecurity, and perceived stress with eating competence in a sample of 1996 undergraduate students. Participants completed an online survey comprised of validated tools assessing socio-demographics, eating competence, everyday discrimination, food insecurity, and perceived stress and stress management. After accounting for covariates (gender, stress management), multivariate regression analyses were conducted, and the coefficients of partial determination revealed that everyday discrimination was the strongest predictor of eating competence. Results demonstrated that lower experience of everyday discrimination, less stress, and being food secure were associated with greater likelihood of being eating competent (EC). Men were more likely to be EC than women or TGNC identities. Since the experience of everyday discrimination was the strongest, inverse predictor of eating competence, addressing discrimination must be considered in future efforts to improve eating competence.

Disordered eating and eating competence in members of online irritable bowel syndrome support groups.

BACKGROUND: This study seeks to evaluate eating competence and disordered eating likelihood among members of online support groups for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and determine whether eating competence and disordered eating likelihood varies according to IBS symptom severity and subtype. METHODS: This cross-sectional study is based on an anonymous survey conducted from August to September 2021. Adults with IBS (N = 225) were recruited from online and social media IBS support forums. IBS symptom severity was assessed using the validated IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS), likelihood of disordered eating was assessed using the validated Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and eating competence was assessed using the validated Satter Eating Competence Inventory (ecSI 2.0™). Multiple linear regression was used to predict EAT-26 total score from IBS-SSS score, age, and IBS subtype. ANOVAs were used to examine the relationships between IBS severity level, IBS subtype, and ecSI 2.0™ total score. KEY RESULTS: Eating competence among the sample was low at 17% while 27% was classified as likely or very likely disordered eating. IBS severity was positively associated with EAT-26 score (p = 0.011) and ecSI 2.0™ score was significantly lower in the severe IBS group compared to the moderate IBS group (p = 0.016). No relationship was detected between IBS subtype and EAT-26 or ecSI 2.0™ scores. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: IBS severity was positively associated with disordered eating likelihood and negatively associated with eating competence. This sheds light on the importance of assessing eating competence and screening for disordered eating prior to selecting therapies for patients with IBS, particularly in females with severe symptoms.

Gender differences in factors related to eating competence in college students: Weight-and-body shame and guilt, weight satisfaction, weight loss effort, and eating disorder risk.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine which weight-and-body-related attitudes and behaviors were most predictive of Eating Competence (EC) in college students amidst COVID-19, according to gender. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was part of a larger study in which an online survey was administered during autumn quarter 2020 to undergraduate students at a northwestern U.S. public university. Measures included EC (ecSI 2.0™), weight-and-body shame and/or guilt (WEBSG), weight satisfaction, current weight loss effort, and eating disorder risk. RESULTS: Of the 1996 respondents included in the final analyses, 40.2 % were eating competent (ecSI 2.0™ ≥32). Gender distribution was 71.6 % women, 23.1 % men, and 4.6 % trans-and-gender non-conforming (TGNC). WEBSG and WEB-S were higher in women and TGNC than in men. Weight satisfaction was lower in women and TGNC students than men, and 47.3 % of the sample was trying to lose weight at the time of the study. Eating disorder (ED) risk was prevalent with nearly 34 % scoring ≥2 on SCOFF and 33 % reporting they saw themselves as having an ED now or in the past. Significant factors of EC varied for each gender, although WEB-S was a shared model factor for all genders. CONCLUSION: EC may be protective, as this was related to less WEB-S in all genders; less WEB-G and greater weight satisfaction in men and women; and lower likelihood of ED risk and trying to lose weight among women. Further research is needed to elucidate whether these maladaptive weight-and-body attitudes and behaviors in college students can be improved to increase EC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.

The impact of dietary restraint and moderate-intensity exercise on post-exercise energy intake in sedentary males.

Exercise is often used for successful weight management, particularly by males. However, exercise may have the potential to promote counter-regulatory eating, because of certain cognitive and psychological factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the unknown role of dietary restraint, BMI, and dieting status on acute and 12-hour post-exercise energy intake (PE-EI) in sedentary males following moderate-intensity exercise. The study consisted of two experimental conditions, exercise and rest, in a counterbalanced-crossover design on two days. Exercise consisted of walking on a treadmill for 60 min. Acute and 12-hour PE-EI were compared on exercise and rest days. Eighty males, mean age 30+/-8 years, participated in the study and were categorized by dietary restraint level, BMI, and dieting status. The main effects of condition and group, and the interaction were not significant for acute or 12-hour PE-EI, suggesting that a single bout of moderate-intensity exercise did not influence PE-EI in sedentary males in reference to dietary restraint, BMI, and dieting status. Therefore, moderate-intensity exercise as a prescription for weight loss does not appear to promote counter-regulatory eating in sedentary males.

Psychosocial risk factors for eating disorders in Hispanic females of diverse ethnic background and non-Hispanic females.

This study investigated differences in psychosocial risk factors for eating disorders among university females (n=406) of diverse Hispanic background (Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American/Mexican, Dominican, Venezuelan) and among White non-Hispanic (n=102) female students. Risk factors were assessed using the Psychosocial Risk Factor Questionnaire (PRFQ) which includes four subscales: Social Pressure for Thinness, Media Pressure for Thinness, Concern for Physical Appearance, and Perception of Physical Appearance. There were significant differences among the groups in total PRFQ score, F(7,499)=2.76, P<.008, and the subscale score for Concern, F(7,499)=2.99, P<.004, with Dominicans, Venezuelans and Columbians having higher scores than White non-Hispanics and Central Americans/Mexicans. In addition, there was a significant difference in BMI, F(7,499)=2.70, P<.009. Both Puerto Ricans (24.27+0.81) and Venezuelans (24.66+1.00) had higher BMIs than White non-Hispanics (21.87+0.37), Cubans (21.99+0.24) and Brazilians (21.46+0.96). There was also a significant, F(7,498)=2.70, P<.009, difference among the groups in Ideal Body Image score. Puerto Ricans had the highest score and Brazilians the lowest. Acknowledging that differences in psychosocial risk factors exist among Hispanic females of diverse background can assist us in creating more targeted approaches for the prevention of potential eating disorders in this population.

CDE and non-CDE dietitians' knowledge of exercise and content of exercise programs for older adults with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To study differences between non-certified diabetes educator registered dietitians (non-CDE-RDs) and certified diabetes educator registered dietitians (CDE-RDs) in the design and content of programs to promote physical activity in older adults with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: The Exercise Teaching Questionnaire was used to assess knowledge of and promotion of physical activity. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Surveys were sent to CDE-RDs and non-CDE-RDs in Florida, California, and Texas. Ninety-four CDE-RDs and 73 non-CDE-RDs completed the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The independent variable was CDE status. The dependent variables were knowledge, design, content, and total exercise scores. ANALYSIS: Two-way ANOVA's tested for Knowledge, Design, and Content scores by RD status and one of the following: years practicing in diabetes education, state, and practice setting. RESULTS: The exercise Knowledge, Design and Content scores were significantly (P < .001) higher in the CDE-RDs compared to those of the non-CDE-RDs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study indicate that education and experience play a key role in the design and content of programs to promote physical activity in older adults. Therefore, the results raise the question of the role the dietitian and nutrition educator should play in the promotion of physical activity in older adults.

Dietary restraint influences accuracies in estimating energy expenditure and energy intake among physically inactive males.

Inaccurate estimations of energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE) may ultimately affect body weight. The purpose of this study was to evaluate accuracy of estimated EI and EE among males in reference to exercise and rest using a counterbalanced, crossover, repeated-measures design. Participants (N = 80) were recruited from a large, urban university in South Florida. Exercise consisted of walking on a treadmill for 60 min at 65% age-predicted maximum heart rate. Food intake was evaluated immediately following exercise and rest. Participants underestimated EI (kcal) on both the exercise (M = 435, SEM = 69) and rest days (M = 439, SEM = 54), overestimated EE (kcal) for exercise (M = 129, SEM = 44), and underestimated EE for rest (M = 54, SEM = 10). Greater accuracy in estimating EE for exercise was significantly (p < .05) associated with higher dietary restraint. The findings suggest that among sedentary males, there is an inability to accurately estimate calories, which has the potential to influence behaviors that affect weight management.