Research
Adherence
Between 1982 and 1992, the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms (including binge eating, vomiting, and laxative use) among college students significantly decreased, while healthier eating habits (regular meal consumption) and lower dieting intensity increased.
Focus on regular meal patterns and reducing the intensity of dieting. The study shows that as dieting became less frequent and intense, and meal regularity improved, eating disorder symptoms decreased, even as average body weight increased.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Significantly fewer women and men reported symptoms of eating disorder and there was evidence of improved eating habits in terms of dietary meal regularity.
Why this rating
Longitudinal study with large sample sizes (N>1000 per wave) and consistent methodology, though self-reported.
Source
Body weight, dieting, and eating disorder symptoms among college students, 1982 to 1992
Todd F. Heatherton et al. · American Journal of Psychiatry · 1995
cohortCited 175×
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