A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide
Abstract Background The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide a pooled prevalence estimate of self-reported disordered eating (SRDE) in athletes based on the available literature, and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. Methods Across ten academic databases, an electronic search wa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-00982-5 |
| _version_ | 1797276227840507904 |
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| author | Hadeel A. Ghazzawi Lana S. Nimer Areen Jamal Haddad Omar A. Alhaj Adam T. Amawi Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal Khaled Trabelsi Mary V. Seeman Haitham Jahrami |
| author_facet | Hadeel A. Ghazzawi Lana S. Nimer Areen Jamal Haddad Omar A. Alhaj Adam T. Amawi Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal Khaled Trabelsi Mary V. Seeman Haitham Jahrami |
| author_sort | Hadeel A. Ghazzawi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide a pooled prevalence estimate of self-reported disordered eating (SRDE) in athletes based on the available literature, and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. Methods Across ten academic databases, an electronic search was conducted from inception to 7th January 2024. The proportion of athletes scoring at or above predetermined cutoffs on validated self-reporting screening measures was used to identify disordered eating (DE). Subgroup analysis per country, per culture, and per research measure were also conducted. Age, body mass index (BMI), and sex were considered as associated/correlated factors. Results The mean prevalence of SRDE among 70,957 athletes in 177 studies (132 publications) was 19.23% (17.04%; 21.62%), I 2 = 97.4%, τ2 = 0.8990, Cochran's Q p value = 0. Australia had the highest percentage of SRDE athletes with a mean of 57.1% (36.0%-75.8%), while Iceland had the lowest, with a mean of 4.9% (1.2%-17.7%). The SRDE prevalence in Eastern countries was higher than in Western countries with 29.1% versus 18.5%. Anaerobic sports had almost double the prevalence of SRDE 37.9% (27.0%-50.2%) compared to aerobic sports 19.6% (15.2%-25%). Gymnastics sports had the highest SRDE prevalence rate, with 41.5% (30.4%-53.6%) while outdoor sports showed the lowest at 15.4% (11.6%-20.2%). Among various tools used to assess SRDE, the three-factor eating questionnaire yielded the highest SRDE rate 73.0% (60.1%-82.8%). Meta-regression analyses showed that female sex, older age, and higher BMI (all p < 0.01) are associated with higher prevalence rates of SRDE. Conclusion The outcome of this review suggests that factors specific to the sport affect eating behaviors throughout an athlete's life. As a result, one in five athletes run the risk of developing an eating disorder. Culture-specific and sport-specific diagnostic tools need to be developed and increased attention paid to nutritional deficiencies in athletes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:25:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2d341322ebb4a51a1052f5ef377153d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:25:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2d341322ebb4a51a1052f5ef377153d2024-03-05T17:23:24ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742024-02-0112112110.1186/s40337-024-00982-5A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwideHadeel A. Ghazzawi0Lana S. Nimer1Areen Jamal Haddad2Omar A. Alhaj3Adam T. Amawi4Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal5Khaled Trabelsi6Mary V. Seeman7Haitham Jahrami8Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of JordanDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of JordanDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of JordanDepartment of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of PetraDepartment of Exercise Science and Kinesiology, School of Sport Science, The University of JordanSaveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha UniversityHigh Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of SfaxDepartment of Psychiatry, University of TorontoMinistry of HealthAbstract Background The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide a pooled prevalence estimate of self-reported disordered eating (SRDE) in athletes based on the available literature, and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. Methods Across ten academic databases, an electronic search was conducted from inception to 7th January 2024. The proportion of athletes scoring at or above predetermined cutoffs on validated self-reporting screening measures was used to identify disordered eating (DE). Subgroup analysis per country, per culture, and per research measure were also conducted. Age, body mass index (BMI), and sex were considered as associated/correlated factors. Results The mean prevalence of SRDE among 70,957 athletes in 177 studies (132 publications) was 19.23% (17.04%; 21.62%), I 2 = 97.4%, τ2 = 0.8990, Cochran's Q p value = 0. Australia had the highest percentage of SRDE athletes with a mean of 57.1% (36.0%-75.8%), while Iceland had the lowest, with a mean of 4.9% (1.2%-17.7%). The SRDE prevalence in Eastern countries was higher than in Western countries with 29.1% versus 18.5%. Anaerobic sports had almost double the prevalence of SRDE 37.9% (27.0%-50.2%) compared to aerobic sports 19.6% (15.2%-25%). Gymnastics sports had the highest SRDE prevalence rate, with 41.5% (30.4%-53.6%) while outdoor sports showed the lowest at 15.4% (11.6%-20.2%). Among various tools used to assess SRDE, the three-factor eating questionnaire yielded the highest SRDE rate 73.0% (60.1%-82.8%). Meta-regression analyses showed that female sex, older age, and higher BMI (all p < 0.01) are associated with higher prevalence rates of SRDE. Conclusion The outcome of this review suggests that factors specific to the sport affect eating behaviors throughout an athlete's life. As a result, one in five athletes run the risk of developing an eating disorder. Culture-specific and sport-specific diagnostic tools need to be developed and increased attention paid to nutritional deficiencies in athletes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-00982-5AnorexiaAerobic energyAthletesEating disordersSport typeWorld region |
| spellingShingle | Hadeel A. Ghazzawi Lana S. Nimer Areen Jamal Haddad Omar A. Alhaj Adam T. Amawi Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal Khaled Trabelsi Mary V. Seeman Haitham Jahrami A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide Journal of Eating Disorders Anorexia Aerobic energy Athletes Eating disorders Sport type World region |
| title | A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide |
| title_full | A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide |
| title_fullStr | A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide |
| title_short | A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide |
| title_sort | systematic review meta analysis and meta regression of the prevalence of self reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide |
| topic | Anorexia Aerobic energy Athletes Eating disorders Sport type World region |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-00982-5 |
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