| The purpose of the study was to enable researchers to better understand the effects that nutrition education and body image curriculum has on body image satisfaction and self-esteem following an academic based body image curriculum for female college students. Designing and implementing efficient prevention programs have become a difficult task for prevention researchers and educators (Levin, 2003). Establishing nutrition education efforts for the college population is suggested technique to combat inappropriate dieting behaviors (Haberman & Luffey, 1998; Skinner, 1991; Seymour, Hoerr, & Huang, 1997). Some researchers (Piran, 1995; Springer, Winzelberg, Perkins, & Taylor, 1999) believe this concept may cultivate weight preoccupation and unhealthy dieting practices, which in turn can encourage disordered eating behaviors. Springer et al. (1999) attributed the success of their body image curriculum for college students to the fact that they excluded nutrition education components. This debate suggests that purposeful prevention variables need to be identified, so effective eating disorder prevention programs can be established. A total of 125 college female students participated in three experimental groups in the study. Pre and post semester variances were measured using a 3 x 2 (Groups X Pre/Post) MANCOVA. The dependent measures used in the MANCOVA included the EAT-26., BSQ, RSE, and CSNK-E and participants' BMIs represented the covariant. A Chi-square test of independence analysis was used to evaluate two questions on the KU-EEBQ. It was hypothesized that implementing nutrition education components into a body image curriculum would not decrease body satisfaction or self-esteem. Overall, body satisfaction and self-esteem did decrease in mean averages but MANCOVA analysis was not significant. A significant interaction for current weight on the KU-EEBQ in the Diet and Image group (chi2 (1, N = 58) = 22.13, p <.05) and the Nutrition Education group was found (chi 2 (1, N = 89) = 9.105, p < .05). Students were more likely to view their current weight as being healthy at post intervention compared to pre intervention. These results support the evidence that nutrition education components can successfully be implemented into a body image curriculum. |
