Attitudes toward Obesity and Eating Pathology among Health Professions Students

The purpose of this study was to examine if eating pathology was associated with attitudes towards obesity among undergraduate health professions students. Undergraduates (n = 222) completed the Eating Pathology Symptom Inventory and measures of attitudes toward appearance. Multiple linear regressions were used to examined effects of eating pathology dimensions on attitudes toward obesity. Significant predictors of negative obesity attitudes were purging, binge eating, muscle building behaviors, and cognitive restraint. Study implications include development of screenings for health professions students to identify those at risk of eating pathology, as unhealthy attitudes toward eating and appearance which may influence patient interactions.