Health at Every Size College Course Reduces Dieting Behaviors and Improves Intuitive Eating, Body Esteem, and Anti-Fat Attitudes

Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of a Health at Every Size general education course on intuitive eating, body esteem (BES), cognitive behavioral dieting scores, and anti-fat attitudes of college students. Methods Quasi-experimental design with 149 students in intervention (45), comparison (66), or control (46) groups. Analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey adjusted tests were used. Results Mean scores for total general education course on intuitive eating ( P < .001), unconditional permission to eat ( P < .001), reliance on hunger ( P < .001), cognitive behavioral dieting scores ( P < .001), BES appearance ( P = .006), BES weight ( P < .001), and anti-fat attitudes ( P < .001) significantly improved from pre to post in the intervention group compared with control and comparison groups. Conclusion and Implications Students in the Health at Every Size class improved intuitive eating, body esteem, and anti-fat attitudes and reduced dieting behaviors compared with students in the control and comparison groups.