Title:

Differences in Eating Competence Scores Between College Students With Different Weight-Related Goals

Objective: To assess the differences in eating competence scores between college students with different weight-related goals (WG). Methods: Data were collected from 2015-2021 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, a recurring cross-sectional study at a mid-sized New England University. Participants completed the Eating Competence Satter Inventory (ecSI 2.0) and reported WG through an online survey. Total ecSI scores (0-48) were used to categorize students as eating competent ≥ 32. Differences in mean ecSI scores between students grouped according to those 1) looking to lose weight, 2) maintain weight, 3) gain weight, and 4) do nothing about their weight were examined via ANCOVA using BMI, gender, and class standing as covariates. Results: After exclusion for missing data, the final sample (n=2813) was 63.8% female. Half (49.0%) of students had a weight loss goal, 16.4% had a weight gain goal, 25% had a weight maintenance goal, and 9.7% had no weight-related goal. The overall ecSI mean score was 33.3± 8.8; 40.7% of students were categorized as non-eating competent. Participants with a weight loss goal tended to have a lower mean ecSI score in comparison to students who wanted to gain weight, maintain weight, or had no weight-related goals (31.3±0.25 vs. 34.1±0.95, 35.4±0.33, or 35.47±0.52, respectively, all p <0.001). Further, three out of the four subscale scores were lowest in students with a weight loss goal compared to the other groups (eating attitudes: 12.3±0.11 vs. 13.8±0.21 vs. 14.1±0.15 vs. 14.7±0.23; internal regulation: 5.9 ± 0.06 vs. 6.8±0.11 vs. 6.8±0.07 vs. 6.8±0.12; contextual skills: 7.9±0.08 vs. 9.0±0.15 vs. 9.0±0.10 vs. 8.4±0.16; all p <.01). Conclusion: College students with weight loss goals reported lower eating competence in comparison to other students. To promote health and well-being, college professionals and health educators should consider the potential negative impacts that weight loss goals have on college students’ overall relationship with eating. Funding Sources: The New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738

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