Objective: To identify the lifetime prevalence and correlates of appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs and substances (APEDS) use among a national sample of US college and university students. Participants: Student participants from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 7,401; ages 18-30 years). Methods: Lifetime prevalence of five forms of…

Objective: This study sampled college students at a medium-sized university to explore the prevalence of food insecurity, as well as frequency of multiple coping behaviors. Participants: The research team randomly sampled 25% of all students attending at least one on-campus class in October 2017, obtaining a response rate of 14.9% (n = 547).…

Objective: 'Drunkorexia' is characterized by compensating for alcohol-related calories using physical activity (PA). Drunkorexia is common on college campuses but little is known about the PA behaviors within the drunkorexia paradigm. Methods: First-year college students living on campus completed an online survey collecting drunkorexia, PA, and…

Objective: To examine whether sexual assault prospectively predicts unhealthy weight management behaviors in college women. Method: Participants were female college students (N = 483) with monthly assessments across the first year, including the frequency and severity of sexual assault and unhealthy weight management behaviors. Results: Frequency…

Objective: The current study examined accuracy in estimating campus norms for eating disorder (ED) pathology and the impact of normative feedback on intentions to help friends. Participants: The sample included 130 undergraduate women. Method: Participants estimated prevalence of ED pathology and were randomly assigned to normative feedback or a…

Objective: To investigate sex and racial/ethnic differences in overweight and obesity in college students. Participants: A nationally representative sample of 319,342 U.S. college students (mean age = 20.4 years; 67.7% female) from Fall 2011 to Spring 2015. Methods: A secondary data analysis of multi-year cross-sectional data was performed.…

Objectives: Examine the prevalence of body weight perception discordance, and its relationship with physical activity and mental health among college women. Participants and methods: Data were collected from a convenience sample of female undergraduates enrolled in general education health and wellness courses at a large, northeastern United…

Background: Research indicates that increased exercise behaviors collectively called FIT (frequency, intensity, and time) values, equate with positive health outcomes. Young college adults often gain weight due to decreased exercise. Purpose: This study seeks to understand whether wearable exercise technology is associated with increased exercise…

Introduction: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a cluster of emotional, and physical symptoms PMDD is a more serious and severe premenstrual condition that affects about 5% of women during their reproductive years. Although PMDD, like PMS, may include physical symptoms, it always involves a worsening of mood that interferes significantly…

Background: Limited research exists on mental health correlates of behaviors of weight-conscious drinking (BWCD) and students' perceptions of how BWCD should be addressed. Purpose: The objectives were to (1) examine BWCD and different aspects of mental health and (2) gain insight into students' perceptions of such behaviors and potential…

Background: Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has dramatically increased in the past decade and has resulted in higher rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among adolescents. Purpose: To examine whether there are gender differences in T2DM risk perception, attitude toward T2DM protective behaviors, physical activity, and…

The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between stress, weight-related health risk behaviors (e.g., eating behaviors, physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, cigarette smoking, and binge drinking), and weight status using cross-sectional data on 2-year community college students enrolled in a randomized controlled weight…

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which university students report having been weight-teased by basic education teachers and how that has affected their social, physical, and academic well-being in the university. Bandura's (1999) theory of triadic reciprocal causation served as a framework for developing this research. An…

Objective: We examine weight control behavior used to (a) compensate for caloric content of heavy alcohol use; and (b) enhance the psychoactive effects of alcohol among college students. We evaluate the role of gender orientation and sex. Participants: Participants completed an online survey (N = 651; 59.9% women; 40.1% men). Method: Weight…

Objective: The study examines metabolic syndrome (MetS) among college students at 3 geographically distinct US campuses. Participants: Undergraduates ("N" = 360; 68% women), 18 to 24 years of age, were recruited at each public university in January and February 2011. MetS prevalence was evaluated in 83% ("n" = 299)…