Health

             All of the studies utilized the Eating Attitudes Test as an index of eating attitudes. One limiting condition throughout was that only a few of the studies incorporated males into the studies for comparison. It is important to study males as well because even though it is females who mainly suffer from negative eating attitudes, males can suffer as well, but they are not publicized as often as females. .
             Many studies of media influences on eating attitudes focus on women, mostly because the incidence of eating disorders is approximately 10 times higher in women than in men. Rabak-Wagner, Eickhoff-Schemek, Kelly-Vance (1998) found that when college students critiqued popular fashion ads, beliefs about their own body images were affected. They became more self-conscious about their appearance. Many advertisements display relatively thin looking models to sell a product. As well, television ads tend to employ thin actors to promote products. TV personalities, such as news anchors, also tend to be on the thin side. In one study (Harrison, 1997), attraction to thin or provocative media personalities have predicted symptoms of eating disorder. .
             When it comes to self-esteem, previous research indicates a relationship between low self-esteem and negative eating attitudes. Experts define a person with negative eating attitudes as a person who intentionally restricts their eating behaviors, has a preoccupation with food, is concerned and has obsessive thoughts about their weight, and may vomit after eating (Maolney et al., 1989). A person with low self-esteem is described as someone who is dissatisfied with their body image, has feeling of inadequacy, and feels out of control of their life (O'Dea & Abraham, 1995). .
             Research on Eating Attitudes, Competitiveness, Media Perception, and Self-Esteem will be conducted at Madonna University. Madonna University is a small, Christian school that consists of mainly Caucasian females.