Eating disorder risk in adolescent and adult female athletes: the role of body satisfaction, sport type, BMI, level of competition, and training background

Joanna Borowiec; Adrianna Banio-Krajnik; Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko; Adam Kantanista

doi:10.1186/s13102-023-00683-7

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 Sci Med Rehabil. 2023 Jul 25;15(1):91. doi: 10.1186/s13102-023-00683-7.

Authors

Joanna Borowiec¹, Adrianna Banio-Krajnik², Ewa Malchrowicz-Mośko³, Adam Kantanista⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education and Lifelong Sports, Poznan University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, Poznań, 61-871, Poland. jborowiec@awf.poznan.pl.
² Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Szczecin, 70-453, Szczecin, Al. Papieża Jana Pawła II 22a, Szczecin, Poland.
³ Department of Sport Tourism, Poznan University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, Poznań, 61-871, Poland.
⁴ Department of Physical Education and Lifelong Sports, Poznan University of Physical Education, Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, Poznań, 61-871, Poland.

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.

Keywords: Aesthetic; Ball sports; Body image; Eating disorders; Non-aesthetic; Young athletes.