Likelihood of suffering from an eating disorder in a sample of Spanish cyclists and triathletes

Journal of Eating Disorders

Emily Knox¹  José J. Muros²  Mikel Zabala³  Ángela Ávila-Alche³ 

[1] Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, Spain;Department of Didactics of Corporal Expression, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de la Cartuja s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain;Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Granada, Granada, Spain;

关键词: Elite athletes;    Eating disorders;    Diet;    BMI;    Risk factors;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40337-020-00350-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDuring recent years, there has been increasing interest in the study of eating disorders within sports practitioners, with prevalence being reported to be higher than in the general population. The aim of this study was to describe and predict eating disorders according to sex, body mass index, age and sport discipline within a sample of athletes.MethodsA sample of 4037 cyclists and triathletes from across Spain was selected. Athletes self-reported demographic characteristics and completed the revised restraint scale, SCOFF questionnaire and Mediterranean diet adherence screener. To be eligible for inclusion, participants had to be over eighteen years old.ResultsMales were significantly less likely than females (p < 0.001; OR = 0.33), and triathletes (p < 0.01; OR = 0.76) were less likely than cyclists to suffer from an eating disorder. Possibility of suffering from an eating disorder increased with increasing body mass index (p < 0.001; OR = 1.38) and decreasing age (p < 0.001; OR = 0.97).ConclusionFindings suggest that the roles of sex, sport discipline, age and body mass index predict risk factors for eating disorders in a sample of Spanish athletes. Clinical diagnosis seems necessary to better understand the factors and mechanisms at play when Spanish athletes develop an eating disorder.Trial registrationEthics Committee of the University of Granada (N°883) data: 16/11/2015.

【 授权许可】

CC BY