Prevalence and Risk Factors for Eating Disorders in Physical Education University Students in Peru

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.114685

Keywords:

Physical Education; University Students; Risk Factors; Body Image; Eating Disorders.

Abstract

Introduction: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental disorders that affect the relationship with food, body weight, and self-image, with significant consequences for physical and psychological health. In the sports field, these problems can be exacerbated by aesthetic pressure and performance demands.
Objective: To analyze the prevalence of eating disorders and their risk factors among university physical education students in various provinces of Peru.
Methodology: A cross-sectional and correlational design was used in a sample of 1,773 students (1,084 women and 689 men). The Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was administered, and anthropometric data were collected. Nonparametric statistical tests and multivariate logistic regression were used for data analysis.
Results: Men had significantly higher scores on the eating concerns, body shape, and weight subscales, except for the restraint subscale. A direct relationship was identified between increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and EDE-Q scores. Furthermore, students who participated in strength/power sports showed a higher prevalence of eating disorders compared to those who participated in team sports.
Discussion: In contrast to other previous studies indicating a higher prevalence of eating disorders in women, the results indicate that male university students in sports also face considerable risks. The relationship between elevated BMI and eating concerns highlights the need for interventions focused on body image, beyond weight management.
Conclusions: The results underscore the importance of establishing prevention and awareness programs for both men and women in university sports. The need for nutritional and psychological counseling is highlighted to reduce the risk of these disorders and promote a healthy relationship with food and the body.

Author Biographies

  • Cesar Angel Durand Gonzales, National University of Callao

    He holds a PhD in Health Administration from the National University of Callao (Peru). He has a solid academic background in education and nutrition. He holds a Master's degree in Educational Management from the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University and a Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Nutrition from the José Faustino Sánchez Carrión National University, where he also earned a Bachelor's degree in Food Science and Nutrition.

    His background integrates knowledge in health, nutrition, and educational management, allowing him to address interdisciplinary topics with a critical, technical, and pedagogical approach. His academic and professional experience focuses on strengthening educational quality and well-being management in university and public health settings.

  • Linda Flor Villa Ricapa, Peruvian University Los Andes

    Bachelor's degree in Nursing - Universidad Peruana Los Andes Master's degree in Health Sciences with a mention in Public Health - Universidad Peruana Los Andes.

  • Luis Alberto Poma Lagos, Peruvian University Los Andes

    Entrepreneurial professional, leader, and team player. He holds a PhD in Law (UPLA). He holds a Master's degree in Law and Political Science, with a minor in Civil and Commercial Law. He is a lawyer. He has a minor in University Teaching. He has over 21 years of experience in university teaching. He is currently a senior lecturer at the Universidad Peruana Los Andes. He is also Dean of the Faculty of Law and Public Policy at the Universidad Peruana Los Andes. He is the author of several books with Legal Deposit Certificates from the National Institute of National Statistics (BNP). He is the author and co-author of scientific articles. He also authored technological software registered with INDECOPI.

  • Antonio Leopoldo Oscuvilca Tapia, Peruvian University Los Andes

    Doctor of Law, Master in Constitutional Law and Human Rights, Master in Social Ethics.

  • Lizet Doriela Mantari Mincami, Peruvian University Los Andes

    Professional specializing in Computer Science and Mathematics, with a specialization in University Teaching, with a strong interest in forming research groups. Currently working on topics related to intellectual property and publishing.

  • Consuelo Carmen Negron Martinez, National University of Engineering

    She holds a PhD in Education from the César Vallejo Private University (Peru), with an outstanding multidisciplinary background that articulates engineering sciences with university teaching. She holds a Master's degree in Education and University Teaching from the Technological University of Peru, a qualification that has allowed her to integrate digital technologies into higher education teaching and learning processes.

    She holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and a Bachelor of Science from the National University of Engineering, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. Her professional profile combines technical rigor with a strong pedagogical vocation, focusing on the development of innovative methodologies for higher education and scientific training.

    Throughout her career, she has promoted the incorporation of technological tools in educational contexts, as well as the strengthening of digital and pedagogical competencies in university settings.

  • Cesar Lorenzo Torres Sime, Cesar Vallejo University

    PhD in Engineering. Industrial Engineer. Professor at Cesar Vallejo University (UCV).

  • José Gustavo Peña Huertas, Technological University of Peru

    Industrial Engineer with 40 years of professional experience, specializing in organization, planning, costs and budgets, and in scientific research, management, and university teaching. He holds a Master's degree in Labor Administration and Industrial Relations, a PhD in Administration, and a specialization in Research Projects and Research Consulting from Continental University. He also holds diplomas in Statistics and Scientific Research, Information and Communication Technologies for Teaching and Research, University Thesis Writing, and also in Scientific Research and University Teaching from Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University. His career is strongly focused on business management and university educational management. I have held management, advisory and university teaching positions at the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University, holding various management positions in the Faculty of Industrial Engineering during the period 1987 - 2000, the Faculty of Administrative Engineering and Industrial Engineering (2002-2008 and 2019-2022), and the Faculty of Dentistry (2009-2012); I have also served as advisor to the Academic Vice-Rector of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University during the period 2013-2018, and as senior advisor to the Academic Vice-Rector of the National University of Callao from July 2017 to October 2021.

  • Roberto Carlos Dávila-Morán, Continental University (UC)

    An industrial engineer with a master's degree in quality management and human development, he has extensive experience that has allowed him to participate in various multidisciplinary research projects. He has also published several articles in internationally peer-reviewed scientific journals. His ability to conduct rigorous research, combined with his knowledge and experience in industrial engineering, allows him to make significant contributions to the field of research. In his research, he stands out for his ability to identify problems and opportunities for improvement, proposing innovative and effective solutions to optimize performance. His commitment and dedication to each project, coupled with his ability to work as a team, make him a highly valued professional in both academia and business.

References

Alkan, O., Uysal, H., & Yigit, Z. (2017). Influence of Breathing Exercise Education Applied on Patients with Heart Failure on Dyspnoea and Quality of Sleep: A Randomized Controlled Study. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 6(9), 107-113.

Bar, R. J., Cassin, S. E., & Dionne, M. M. (2016). Eating disorder prevention initiatives for athletes: A review. European Journal of Sport Science, 16(3), 325-335. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1013995

Bonci, C., Bonci, L., Granger, L., Johnson, C., Malina, R., Milne, L., Ryan, R., & Vanderbunt, E. (2008). National athletic trainers’ association position statement: Preventing, detecting, and managing disordered eating in athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 43(1), 80-108. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-43.1.80

Bratland, S., & Sundgot, J. (2013). Eating disorders in athletes: Overview of prevalence, risk factors and recommendations for prevention and treatment. European Journal of Sport Science, 13(5), 499-508. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2012.740504

Cialdella-Kam, L., Guebels, C., Maddalozzo, G., & Manore, M. (2014). Dietary Intervention Restored Menses in Female Athletes with Exercise-Associated Menstrual Dysfunction with Limited Impact on Bone and Muscle Health. Nutrients, 6(8), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6083018

Deering, S. (2001). Eating disorders: Recognition, evaluation, and implications for obstetrician/gynecologists. Primary Care Update for OB/GYNS, 8(1), 31-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1068-607X(00)00067-6

Fairburn, C., & Beglin, S. (1994). Assessment of eating disorders: Interview or self-report questionnaire? The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 16(4), 363-370.

Fairburn, C., & Beglin, S. (2008). Eating disorder examination questionnaire. En Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Guilford Press.

Fairburn, C. G., & Harrison, P. J. (2003). Eating disorders. The Lancet, 361(9355), 407-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12378-1

Fink, H., & Mikesky, A. (2018). Practical applications in sports nutrition. ((5th ed.)). Jones & Barlett Learning.

Galli, N., Petrie, T., Greenleaf, C., Reel, J., & Carter, J. (2014). Personality and psychological correlates of eating disorder symptoms among male collegiate athletes. Eating Behaviors, 15(4), 615-618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2014.08.007

Garner, D. (2004). Eating Disorder Inventory—3 Professional. Manual. Psychological Assessment Resources.

Ghoch, M., Soave, F., Calugi, S., & Dalle Grave, R. (2013). Eating Disorders, Physical Fitness and Sport Performance: A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 5(12), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5125140

Joy, E., Kussman, A., & Nattiv, A. (2016). 2016 update on eating disorders in athletes: A comprehensive narrative review with a focus on clinical assessment and management. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 154-162. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095735

Karasar, N. (2002). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi. 16. Basım. Nobel Yayıncılık.

Knapp, J., Aerni, G., & Anderson, J. (2014). Eating disorders in female athletes: Use of screening tools. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 13(4), 214-218. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000074

Kristjánsdóttir, H., Sigurðardóttir, P., Jónsdóttir, S., Þorsteinsdóttir, G., & Saavedra, J. (2019). Body Image Concern and Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Elite Icelandic Athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(15), 2728. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152728

Kugu, N., Akyuz, G., Dogan, O., Ersan, E., & Izgic, F. (2006). The Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among University Students and the Relationship with Some Individual Characteristics. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40(2), 129-135. https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01759.x

Márquez, S., & Molinero, O. (2013). Energy availability, menstrual dysfunction and bone health in sports; an overwiew of the female athlete triad. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 28(4), 1010-1017. https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2013.28.4.6542

McLester, C., Hardin, R., & Hoppe, S. (2014). Susceptibility to Eating Disorders Among Collegiate Female Student–Athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 49(3), 406-410. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-49.2.16

Mountjoy, M., Sundgot, J., Burke, L., Ackerman, K. E., Blauwet, C., Constantini, N., Lebrun, C., Lundy, B., Melin, A., Meyer, N., Sherman, R., Tenforde, A., Klungland, M., & Budgett, R. (2018). IOC consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S): 2018 update. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(11), 687-697. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099193

Murray, S. B., Griffiths, S., & Mond, J. M. (2016). Evolving eating disorder psychopathology: Conceptualising muscularity-oriented disordered eating. British Journal of Psychiatry, 208(5), 414-415. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168427

Ozier, A. D., & Henry, B. W. (2011). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disorders. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(8), 1236-1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2011.06.016

Schaal, K., Tafflet, M., Nassif, H., Thibault, V., Pichard, C., Alcotte, M., Guillet, T., Helou, N. E., Berthelot, G., Simon, S., & Toussaint, J. (2011). Psychological Balance in High Level Athletes: Gender-Based Differences and Sport-Specific Patterns. PLOS ONE, 6(5), e19007. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0019007

Schwarz, H., Gairrett, R., Aruguete, M., & Gold, E. (2005). Eating Attitudes, Body Dissatisfaction, and Perfectionism in Female College Athletes. North American Journal of Psychology, 7(3), 345-352.

Sundgot, J., & Torstveit, M. (2004). Prevalence of eating disorders in elite athletes is higher than in the general population. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine: Official Journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 14(1), 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1097/00042752-200401000-00005

Taylor, C., Bryson, S., Luce, K., Cunning, D., Doyle, A., Abascal, L., Rockwell, R., Dev, P., Winzelberg, A. J., & Wilfley, D. (2006). Prevention of Eating Disorders in At-Risk College-Age Women. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(8), 881. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.8.881

Thiemann, P., Legenbauer, T., Vocks, S., Platen, P., Auyeung, B., & Herpertz, S. (2015). Eating Disorders and Their Putative Risk Factors Among Female German Professional Athletes. European Eating Disorders Review, 23(4), 269-276. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2360

Turan, S., Poyraz, C., & Özdemir, A. (2015). Tıkınırcasına yeme bozukluğu. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 7(4), 419-435. https://doi.org/10.5455/cap.20150213091928

Ünalan, D., Öztop, D., Elmali, F., Öztürk, A., Konak, D., & Pirlak, B. (2009). The relationship between eating attitudes and healthy lifestyle behaviors of a group of health school students. Journal of Inonu University Medical Faculty, 16(2), 75-81.

Wagner, A. J., Erickson, C. D., Tierney, D. K., Houston, M. N., & Bacon, C. E. W. (2016). The Diagnostic Accuracy of Screening Tools to Detect Eating Disorders in Female Athletes. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 25(4), 395-398. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2014-0337

Westmoreland, P., Krantz, M. J., & Mehler, P. S. (2016). Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. The American Journal of Medicine, 129(1), 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.06.031

Downloads

Published

12-05-2025

Issue

Vol. 67 (2025)

Section

Original Research Article

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Cesar Angel Durand Gonzales, Linda Flor Villa Ricapa, Luis Alberto Poma Lagos, Antonio Leopoldo Oscuvilca Tapia, Lizet Doriela Mantari Mincami, Consuelo Carmen Negron Martinez, Cesar Lorenzo Torres Sime, José Gustavo Peña Huertas, Roberto Carlos Dávila-Morán

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
  2. Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).

This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.

How to Cite

Durand Gonzales, C. A., Villa Ricapa, L. F., Poma Lagos, L. A., Oscuvilca Tapia, A. L., Mantari Mincami, L. D., Negron Martinez, C. C., Torres Sime, C. L., Peña Huertas, J. G., & Dávila-Morán, R. C. (2025). Prevalence and Risk Factors for Eating Disorders in Physical Education University Students in Peru. Retos, 67, 1134-1145. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.114685