Weight-related sports involvement in girls: who is at risk for disordered eating?

Am J Health Promot. 2002 Jul-Aug;16(6):341-4, ii. doi: 10.4278/0890-1171-16.6.341.

Abstract

A 225-item questionnaire was completed by 5163 female 7th, 9th and 11th grade public school students in their classrooms to examine factors associated with eating disorders among girls involved in weight-related sports. Eating disorder symptoms were found in almost one third of girls involved in weight-related and non-weight-related sports. However, after controlling for grade, race, SES, and study design effect, girls in weight-related sports were 51% more likely to have eating disorder symptoms. Also, among girls in weight-related sports who had eating disorders, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse history, depressive symptoms, suicide attempts, low family communication, and low parental caring were 98% to 377% more common.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Connecticut / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Risk Assessment* / statistics & numerical data
  • Schools
  • Sports / psychology*