This study compared the prevalence of eating disorder behavior between collegiate athletes (n = 206) and college female nonathletes (n = 197). Numerous eating disorder studies conducted on the female college population have shown this population to be at greater risk of developing eating disorders than the general population. Furthermore, some studies have found that women athletes are even at higher risk of eating disorders, but the research has produced conflictual and inconclusive evidence. In this study, it was hypothesized that athletes would have higher rates of disordered eating. However, a reverse outcome occurred. The t-test conducted on the EAT-26 scores from the two groups showed that the nonathletes females displayed significantly higher eating disordered behavior than the female athletes. Additionally, relationships between sports advocating body leanness as possible risk factors of eating disorders were investigated and no significance was found. The study did find a link between age and eating disorder behavior among nonathletes. Traditionally, it has been assumed that collegiate female athletes are more likely to develop an eating disorder because of the intense training and performance demands that are added to the normal stressors of college life. This study challenges this assumption. The implications from the current study suggest additional research is needed to further investigate the specific environmental elements that may predispose subpopulations of college women to develop eating disorders. / Ph. D.

Utvecklingen av smartphones har gjort att det uppkommit flera applikationer som ska hjälpa människor att mäta deras hälsa. Egenmätnings-applikationer som t.ex. kaloriräknare har däremot visat sig vara problematiska då de används av personer med ätstörningsbeteende. För att människor ska känna välmående måste de uppleva autonomi. För att uppleva autonomi måste människor känna sig motiverade och att de är i kontroll över deras egna val. Studien undersöker hur kaloriräknare kan designas för att främja autonomi hos människor med ätstörningsbeteende. Studien har genomfört en litteraturstudie för att identifiera designutmaningar. Designutmaningarna har därefter försökt hanteras i två prototyper. Prototyperna har hanterat designutmaningarna på olika sätt för att bättre förstå vad som stöttar autonomi. Prototyperna har sedan utvärderats och diskuterats i fokusgrupper.  Resultatet från fokusgrupperna utvärderades utifrån autonomi, och analysen resulterade i tio teman, indelade i två kategorier. Dessa teman diskuterades sedan och bidrog till lärdomar om hur kaloriräknare kan designas för att stötta autonomi hos människor med ätstörningsbeteende. / The development of smartphones has led to the emergence of several applications that will help people measure their health. Self-tracking applications such as calorie counters, on the other hand, have proven to be problematic because they are used by people with eating disorders. People must experience autonomy to be able to accomplish well-being. To experience autonomy, people must feel motivated and in control of their own choices. The study examines how calorie counters can be designed to promote autonomy for people with eating disorders. The study has conducted a literature review to identify design challenges. The design challenges resulted in two prototypes. The prototypes handled the design challenges in different ways to better understand what supports autonomy. The prototypes were then evaluated and discussed in focus groups.  The results from the focus groups were evaluated on the basis of autonomy, and the analysis resulted in ten themes, divided into two categories. These themes were then discussed and contributed to lessons learned on how calorie counters can be designed to support autonomy for people with eating disorder behaviors.