Developing Positive Eating Habits in Sorority Members
A Pilot Study Evaluating the Impact of a Nutrition Workshop
Introduction
College is a time of increased independence, and for many students, it’s the first time they have full control over their food choices. The endless options in dining halls and the social aspect of eating with new friends can feel overwhelming and may lead to comparison, sometimes even sparking conversations rooted in diet culture. Talk of the “freshman 15” or hearing a friend talk about “cutting out carbs,” for example, may be new and unfamiliar concepts that can cause students to rethink their own food choices. When combined with changes in routine and heightened stress, these factors can make college students particularly vulnerable to the harmful messages of diet culture and negative perceptions about food and body image, creating the ‘perfect storm’ for disordered eating to emerge. Unfortunately for some, this can spiral into a full-blown eating disorder (ED). Research shows that approximately 21–67% of college-aged women exhibit disordered eating, and 12-25% meet the criteria for an ED.1 This population is disproportionately affected by EDs as well. Of the 24 million people struggling with an ED, 90% of them are women aged 15 to 29 years old.2 Alarmingly, the likelihood of a college student having an ED is also on the rise – the risk increased by 13 percentage points between 2013 and 2021.3 Given these trends and that EDs are the second deadliest psychiatric illness,3 providing proper nutrition education, support, and outreach is crucial to help prevent the development of negative eating habits, for early detection, and to help those who are already struggling.
Influence of Sorority Membership on Eating Behaviors
Sorority members represent a particularly at-risk population, as research has shown a link between sorority membership and disordered eating. The social pressures a sorority member may feel and the environment she is in may contribute to disordered eating behaviors.4 Additionally, sorority members may also be at a higher risk for eating disorders.5 One study found that sorority women and those intending to rush reported higher body dissatisfaction and greater social pressure, suggesting that sororities may attract individuals already at a higher risk of developing disordered eating behaviors.6 Other findings show that sorority members tend to have lower BMIs and are more likely to engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors, though no causal relationship has been established.7 Additionally, within sororities, members with similar BMIs are more likely to form close social ties, and those with more disordered eating symptoms experience greater social isolation.8 Similarly, another study found that sorority members with higher body dissatisfaction reported feeling less socially connected to their peers.2 These findings reflect the isolating nature of disordered eating and EDs. However, the direction of this relationship remains unclear, and more research is needed to determine whether sororities attract women already at high risk or if the environment within sororities contributes to the development of disordered eating. That is, do the women in sororities already have a higher likelihood of developing disordered eating, or does the sorority itself have a negative influence on their eating habits and body image?
Regardless, sorority members may benefit from interventions that promote positive eating habits and body image practices. One study assessed the effect of cognitive dissonance and media psychoeducation interventions and found that they reduced eating disorder risk factors, including dietary restraint and body dissatisfaction, among sorority members.5 Similarly, an additional study found that one session of a cognitive dissonance-based workshop improved thin-ideal internalization, body image, and eating behaviors in college women with body image concerns.9 Despite these promising findings, research on interventions targeting sorority members remains limited. Therefore, my research aimed to determine whether a workshop promoting positive behaviors around eating and body image would benefit this population.
Pilot Study
The objectives of this study were threefold:
1. Investigate the effect of sorority membership on eating behaviors and body image.
2. Develop a workshop on diet culture and creating positive eating habits and a healthy relationship with one’s body in college.
3. Assess the efficacy and impact of this workshop and determine its implications for future use.
Workshop Content
Before creating the workshop, a brief survey was distributed to a few University of Southern California (USC) Greek life members to gauge interest, assess comfort levels discussing eating and body image in small groups, and gather input on preferred topics. Based on their responses, the workshop included discussions on social media, comparison, and applying intuitive eating principles in college. The session was divided into two main sections: diet culture and intuitive eating. The first section defined diet culture, provided examples of where it appears on campus, particularly in social settings involving alcohol and on social media, and included discussion questions about personal experiences and media influence. The second section focused on intuitive eating, offering an overview of its ten principles, identifying unhelpful eating habits, and focusing on how a few principles can be applied, particularly in a college setting. This portion also featured a mindful eating activity using a piece of chocolate, adapted from a James Madison University resource.10 The workshop concluded with a list of campus and online resources for further support.
Surveys
To gather more information from participants, pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys were created. The goal of the pre-survey was to get an idea of the attitudes sorority members have towards eating and body image. Some questions were based on the Dutch Restrained Eating Scale (DRES) and Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Scale (SATAQ-3). Questions with a 6-point Likert scale assessed eating behaviors in relation to intuitive eating principles and ideas around body image. Participants’ familiarity of the terms ‘diet culture’ and ‘intuitive eating’ and their knowledge of campus resources for eating support were also evaluated. For the post-survey, the goal was to determine if participants understood the workshop and found it helpful. Members were asked to describe intuitive eating and diet culture in their own words, if they found the presentation valuable and useful for sorority members in the future, and to provide feedback. The follow-up survey was meant to assess if the workshop had lasting, positive effects on participants. It asked if they had tried anything new since the workshop or if it reinforced something they already did.
Results
The workshop was held with one sorority chapter at USC during their Monday night chapter meeting, with approximately 70 members in attendance. Before starting, participants were informed that participation was voluntary, and they completed a pre-survey via Qualtrics. All responses were anonymous to ensure confidentiality. For the discussion questions, members shared in small groups and then contributed to a larger group discussion. Topics discussed included not eating before going out, drunk eating, and comparison to friends or roommates. For the social media questions, members brought up the promotion of unrealistic body standards, diet trends on TikTok, and “what I eat in a day” videos. Additionally, many found the mindful eating exercise helpful in understanding how to eat with intention. The workshop concluded with filling out the post-survey and an open Q&A session.
Survey results revealed that while most sorority participants were somewhat familiar with concepts like diet culture (93%) and intuitive eating (85%), many still reported frequent struggles with body image and intuitive eating behaviors. Less than half of the participants reported checking their hunger levels before a meal, and 52% reported eating foods they enjoyed without feeling guilty, only ‘occasionally’ or ‘rarely’. However, 71% allowed themselves to eat what they wanted at least occasionally. The majority expressed feeling pressure to look a certain way (66%) and media-driven pressure to be thin (71%), with 70% often comparing their bodies to peers or celebrities. 65% of participants were unaware of campus resources for support, and over half expressed uncertainty or desire for someone to talk to about their eating habits and body image.
Following the workshop, 46% of participants indicated plans to try a new positive habit, such as reducing restrictive eating and using the hunger fullness scale. Some of the ways participants described diet culture included “the notion that health and thinness are intrinsically tied,” “restrictive eating,” and “eating to look a certain way.” Descriptions of intuitive eating included “listening to your body,” “a practice of self-care where you eat based on hunger cues rather than traditional rules,” and “being mindful of what you eat, moderation, not depriving yourself of food.” Most participants (74%) found the presentation ‘valuable’ or ‘extremely valuable’ and supported holding similar workshops annually for sororities (60%), highlighting both the need and receptiveness for continued education and support in this area. There was no significant data from the follow-up survey due to a high attrition rate.
Considerations for Future Use
The main feedback received from participants was to shorten the length of the workshop, so future versions could include only one discussion question and streamlined intuitive eating content to be a total time of 30 minutes or less. I also spoke with the chapter’s executive board for additional feedback, who shared that members found the workshop helpful and informative overall. They suggested offering a tangible takeaway to reinforce the material, such as a handout summarizing intuitive eating principles or a simple object like a magnet or sticker with a positive affirmation.
Providers interested in implementing a similar workshop should consider offering incentives to boost engagement. Some chapters use a “house points” system, which could be utilized, or participation could qualify as a raffle entry for a gift card. The workshop should also be convenient for members to attend and fit into their busy college schedules. Ideally, holding it during a chapter meeting or at another easily accessible time and location would be the best way to reach the most members.
Additionally, emphasis should be placed on creating a community of support rather than a community of comparison or competitiveness, especially since many members often live in a house together for at least a year while in a sorority. Research suggests that increasing social connection within a sorority may decrease body dissatisfaction,2 highlighting the tangible benefits of cultivating an empathetic and inclusive environment. Tapping into existing sorority resources can also be an effective way to enhance outreach. Partnering with a chapter to host an event, like a “Smash the Scale” day (in which people destroy scales to fight against diet culture), can serve as a meaningful entry point and help spark open conversations.
Challenges in Reaching this Population
Unfortunately, several challenges were encountered while working with this population. Communication and scheduling took much longer than expected, which delayed the implementation of the workshop. Initial outreach to Panhellenic began via email, resulting in contact information for each chapter’s health officer. Despite reaching out to all chapters, only a few responded, and ultimately, just one chapter agreed to host the workshop. To put it in perspective, initial outreach began in October, but the workshop wasn’t conducted until the following February. Although the workshop was well-intentioned, hesitation from the Panhellenic board and challenges in scheduling with individual chapters presented obstacles. While Panhellenic did not provide specific reasons for their reluctance, it may have stemmed from concerns about participating in research. Coordination proved more difficult than expected, but prior experience as a sorority member likely helped establish trust and contributed to the chapter’s openness to conducting this workshop at the end of the day.
This experience should not discourage other dietetic students interested in this area of research or providers who want to work with sororities. Instead, anticipate some resistance or hesitation at first. Consistent outreach efforts are worthwhile and should be attempted regardless, as results from my work showed that most members found the content valuable and believed similar workshops would be beneficial in the future.
The Role of Registered Dietitians in Creating Lasting Change
Workshops like this one play a vital role in fostering a more supportive and health-focused environment for college students. They create a safe space for open discussion for struggles they may be facing, offer education on what a healthy relationship with food truly looks like, and provide insight on how we can better support this vulnerable population.
Additionally, these workshops may help students feel more comfortable seeking out campus resources when they need support. Registered dietitians and other university healthcare providers should consider implementing workshops on positive eating habits and body image practices annually – not just for sorority members, but for any young woman navigating college life. College is a period of immense growth, change, and learning. Giving students the foundation and tools to develop a healthy relationship with food and their bodies can set them up for success far beyond these formative years.
Unfortunately, many students enter college already holding negative beliefs or misunderstandings about food and their bodies. In a society prioritizing thinness, it’s incredibly difficult to think differently and oppose the status quo. Girls as young as five are aware of the value placed on being thin and already know what dieting means. By sixth grade, 60% of them will have dieted.11 Social media adds to this noise, constantly promoting unrealistic beauty standards, fad diets, and misinformation about what (or what not) to eat, with advice often shared by people with little to no nutrition training. By the time young women arrive on college campuses, many already hold deep-rooted, distorted beliefs about what “healthy eating” means and what they should look like. This is where registered dietitians have the unique opportunity to combine the power of human connection with evidence-based guidance. While a single workshop (or even a few) may not reverse the harmful ideas our society has instilled around health and nutrition, it can be a powerful first step to open the door to potential, lasting change and help raise a generation of women who have peace with food and feel comfortably at home in their bodies.
About the Author: Ellen Amico, MS, RD, is a recent graduate from the coordinated dietetics program at the University of Southern California, where she received her Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan and Longevity.
References:
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