Prevalence rates for adolescent depressive symptoms differ significantly between males and females. Explanatory models are unable to adequately clarify why this difference exists. To enhance understanding of gender differences, the role of intrapersonal risk factors body dissatisfaction (BD) and disordered eating behaviour (DEB) were investigated using secondary data from a sample of high school students from industrial Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Results showed that 32.4% of females and 20.6% of males experienced depressive symptoms over the past week. Both genders were at an increased risk for depressive symptoms if they had BD (OR male 1.71, OR female 1.39) or DEB (OR male 3.35, OR female 3.40). Findings indicated that males and females shared similar rather than differing risk behaviour profiles in relation to depressive symptoms with respect to DEB.

Esta investigación busca determinar la asociación entre el riesgo de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) y el comportamiento alimentario en estudiantes de nutrición y dietética de una universidad privada de Lima. A 264 estudiantes se les aplicó una encuesta sobre sus datos personales y los cuestionarios EAT-26 y TFEQ-r21. Se utilizaron la prueba de Chi cuadrado para para analizar la asociación entre las variables categóricas y la prueba de t de student para variables numéricas. Del total de estudiantes incluidos en el estudio, el 18,2% presentó riesgo de padecer TCA. El mayor riesgo fue encontrado en estudiantes de segundo año de la carrera y el menor riesgo en los de último año (p=0,048). De las 3 subescalas del cuestionario TFEQ-r21, “restricción cognitiva” fue la subescala con las puntuaciones más altas, indicando alto riesgo a tener comportamiento alimentario inadecuado en estudiantes de ambos sexos con un promedio de 2,93(DE:0,45; p<0,001). Se encontraron asociaciones positivas entre el riesgo de padecer TCA con el peso corporal (p=0,027), el autorreporte de residencia en mujeres (no vivir con familia) (p=0,013) y con la no omisión de comidas en hombres (p=0,010). En conclusión, se encontró alta prevalencia de riesgo de padecer TCA, sobretodo en los estudiantes de segundo año académico y de sexo femenino en la carrera de nutrición y dietética. Además, se encontró una alta tendencia a la restricción cognitiva en los estudiantes de la carrera. Debe haber mayor conciencia y preocupación por prevenir, detectar y abordar los TCA en los estudiantes de nutrición, puesto que los TCA no sólo pueden afectar su salud física y mental, sino también su criterio profesional a futuro. / The aim of this research is to determine the association between eating disorder risk and disordered eating behaviour in students of the career of nutrition and dietetics of a private university in Lima. A survey of personal information and two questionnaires: EAT-26 and TFEQ-r21 were applied to 264 students. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the association between categorical variables and the Student’s t-test for numerical variables. Of the total of students included in the study, 18,2% presented a risk of suffering from eating disorders; the highest risk was found in second-year students of the degree and the lowest risk in seniors (p=0,048). Of the 3 subscales of the TFEQ-r21 questionnaire, “cognitive restriction” was the subscale with the highest score in students of both sexes with a mean of 2,93 and a SD of 0,45 (p<0,001) indicating a high risk of disordered eating behaviours. Positive associations were found between risk of eating disorders and body weight (p=0,027), self-report of residence (p=0,013) in women (living without family) and with the non-omission of meals in men (p=0,010). In conclusion, high tendency to cognitive restriction and high prevalence of risk of suffering from eating disorders was found in nutrition students, especially those in the second year of studies and in women. Greater awareness and concern to prevent, detect and address eating disorders in nutrition students is needed, since eating disorders can not only affect physical and mental health, but also professional judgment of the students in the future. / Tesis