Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background
Abstract Background Eating disorders negatively influence athletes’ health and performance. To achieve a high level of performance and conform to cultural expectations regarding an athletic body type, female athletes often restrict their diets, which can lead to eating disorders. In addition to fact...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00683-7 |
| _version_ | 1827890306659385344 |
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| author | Joanna Borowiec Adrianna Banio-Krajnik Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko Adam Kantanista |
| author_facet | Joanna Borowiec Adrianna Banio-Krajnik Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko Adam Kantanista |
| author_sort | Joanna Borowiec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Eating disorders negatively influence athletes’ health and performance. To achieve a high level of performance and conform to cultural expectations regarding an athletic body type, female athletes often restrict their diets, which can lead to eating disorders. In addition to factors related to the sports environment, adolescent athletes are subject to changes caused by the maturation process. Therefore, the same factors may have different effects on eating disorder risk among adolescent and adult athletes. This study examined the relationship between eating disorder risk, specific aspects of the sports environment (sport type, level of competition [national and international], and training background), and individual aspects (body satisfaction and body mass index) in two groups of athletes: adolescents and adults. Methods The sample included 241 highly trained female athletes aged 12–30 years (M = 20.68, SD = 4.45) recruited from different sports clubs in Poland. The subgroup of adolescents consisted of 82 athletes, while the number of adult athletes was 159. The Eating Attitudes Test questionnaire was used to assess the eating disorder risk among the athletes. Body satisfaction was measured using the Feelings and Attitudes Toward Body Scale incorporated into the Body Investment Scale. Results Eating disorder risk was prevalent among 14.6% of the adolescent and 6.9% of the adult athletes. Significant associations between eating disorder risk and the studied variables were noted only among adolescent athletes. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the occurrence of eating disorder risk was associated with participation in lean non-aesthetic sports (OR = 11.50, 95% CI: 3.58–37.09). Moreover, eating disorder risk was associated with athletes’ lower body satisfaction (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.70–0.92). Body mass index was not included in the final regression model. Conclusions The study indicated that eating disorder risk in adolescent female athletes was related to sport type and body satisfaction. The findings showed that, in adolescent athletes, eating disorder risk was the most associated with practicing lean non-aesthetic sports. Coaches and athletes should be aware that eating disorder risk increases among individuals with a lower body image. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:08:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cacf1230124f4908bd56b82d9239e7fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:08:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-cacf1230124f4908bd56b82d9239e7fd2023-07-30T11:22:00ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472023-07-0115111110.1186/s13102-023-00683-7Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training backgroundJoanna Borowiec0Adrianna Banio-Krajnik1Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko2Adam Kantanista3Department of Physical Education and Lifelong Sports, Poznan University of Physical EducationInstitute of Physical Culture Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of SzczecinDepartment of Sport Tourism, Poznan University of Physical EducationDepartment of Physical Education and Lifelong Sports, Poznan University of Physical EducationAbstract Background Eating disorders negatively influence athletes’ health and performance. To achieve a high level of performance and conform to cultural expectations regarding an athletic body type, female athletes often restrict their diets, which can lead to eating disorders. In addition to factors related to the sports environment, adolescent athletes are subject to changes caused by the maturation process. Therefore, the same factors may have different effects on eating disorder risk among adolescent and adult athletes. This study examined the relationship between eating disorder risk, specific aspects of the sports environment (sport type, level of competition [national and international], and training background), and individual aspects (body satisfaction and body mass index) in two groups of athletes: adolescents and adults. Methods The sample included 241 highly trained female athletes aged 12–30 years (M = 20.68, SD = 4.45) recruited from different sports clubs in Poland. The subgroup of adolescents consisted of 82 athletes, while the number of adult athletes was 159. The Eating Attitudes Test questionnaire was used to assess the eating disorder risk among the athletes. Body satisfaction was measured using the Feelings and Attitudes Toward Body Scale incorporated into the Body Investment Scale. Results Eating disorder risk was prevalent among 14.6% of the adolescent and 6.9% of the adult athletes. Significant associations between eating disorder risk and the studied variables were noted only among adolescent athletes. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the occurrence of eating disorder risk was associated with participation in lean non-aesthetic sports (OR = 11.50, 95% CI: 3.58–37.09). Moreover, eating disorder risk was associated with athletes’ lower body satisfaction (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.70–0.92). Body mass index was not included in the final regression model. Conclusions The study indicated that eating disorder risk in adolescent female athletes was related to sport type and body satisfaction. The findings showed that, in adolescent athletes, eating disorder risk was the most associated with practicing lean non-aesthetic sports. Coaches and athletes should be aware that eating disorder risk increases among individuals with a lower body image.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00683-7Eating disordersBody imageYoung athletesAestheticNon-aestheticBall sports |
| spellingShingle | Joanna Borowiec Adrianna Banio-Krajnik Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko Adam Kantanista Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Eating disorders Body image Young athletes Aesthetic Non-aesthetic Ball sports |
| title | Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background |
| title_full | Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background |
| title_fullStr | Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background |
| title_short | Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background |
| title_sort | eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes the role of body satisfaction sport type bmi level of competition and training background |
| topic | Eating disorders Body image Young athletes Aesthetic Non-aesthetic Ball sports |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00683-7 |
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