Relationship Between Supplement Use and Eating Disorder Symptoms

Authors

• Hannah Segura, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
• Lisa Menegatos, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Danielle Morabita, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Maegan Nation, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Files

Description

Background: Eating disorders encompass a spectrum of cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms related to eating and compensatory weight management behaviors. Supplement usage is becoming increasingly common, especially among younger populations. Using supplements has been shown to put adolescents at an increased risk for body dysmorphia, disordered eating behaviors, as well as other potentially harmful health effects, like electrolyte complications, heart issues, or even death. However, there is less research done on supplement usage in the college student population, especially in men. Across the past 10 years, supplement use in college students has increased 19.5%. Overall, there is a lack of consensus of what typical supplement use among college students looks like and what exactly they are used for. I hypothesize that students who use supplements will be at a higher risk of an eating disorder and that gender will moderate the strength of the association. Method and statistical analysis: 621 students completed the Clinical Impairment Questionnaire, Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire and the Dietary Supplement Questionnaire. A linear regression between eating disorder symptoms and supplement use was used to predict the relationship between the two. A moderation was used to assess if gender moderated the relationship between eating disorder symptoms and supplement usage. Conclusions: These findings indicate that supplement use was consistent between genders and did not increase ED impairment.

Publisher Location

Las Vegas (Nev.)

Publication Date

Spring 4-17-2026

Publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Keywords

Eating Disorders; Supplement Use; Caffeine Use; Risk Factors

Disciplines

Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Nutrition | Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy

File Format

PDF

File Size

501 KB

Comments

Mentor: Kara Christensen Pacella

Recommended Citation

Segura, Hannah; Menegatos, Lisa; Morabita, Danielle; and Nation, Maegan, "Relationship Between Supplement Use and Eating Disorder Symptoms" (2026). Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters. 301.
https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/durep_posters/301

Rights

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