kristinawieghmink_ed693_mastersproject

42 women (Barker & Galambos, 2006; Kaminski & McNamara, 1996). When young women attend college, during this high-risk developmental period (Berg et al., 2009), increased risk for disordered eating can occur due to social and academic pressures that come with the college environment. Barker and Galambos (2006) state that the high-risk of college life transitions can contribute to stressors that may exceed coping resources, resulting in increased risk for eating problems. According to Delinsky and Wilson (2008), during the first year of college, disordered eating increases and is considered a high-risk period for the development of eating disorders. Results from research studies indicate “25% of college women are thought to be at risk for developing eating disorders� (Winzelberg et. al., 2000, p. 346; Berg et al., 2009).

Specifically, according to Cooley and Toray (2001), body dissatisfaction was the leading factor that contributed to increased eating pathologies for women entering college.

Prior research indicated other factors such as lowered self-esteem, negative body image, drive for thinness, and obsessive concerns regarding weight and appearance (Kaminski & McNamara, 1996) are precursors of eating disorders. Females who are unhappy with their body image are more susceptible to developing eating disorders (Cooley & Toray, 2001). With nearly one third of female college students at risk for developing these harmful diseases, higher educational institutions need to be a part of the cohort to intervene and treat their students.

Athletes are the female college student sub-population that is at an even greater risk for developing eating disorders (Etzel et al., 2006; Rudd & Carter, 2006; Greenleaf et al., 2009; Holm-Denoma et al., 2009; Johnson et al., 1999). A NCAA Division I study of college athletes, by Johnson et al. (1999), found that 58% of females were at high risk for