scholarly journals Differences in attitudes, behaviours and beliefs towards eating between female bodybuilding athletes and non-athletes, and the implications for eating disorders and disordered eating

Author(s):  
Eleanor Money-Taylor ◽  
Nick Dobbin ◽  
Rebecca Gregg ◽  
Joseph J. Matthews ◽  
Ozcan Esen

Abstract Background Female athletes participating in sports emphasising aesthetics are potentially more prone to developing disordered eating (DE) and eating disorders (EDs) than non-athletes, males, and those participating in sports with less emphasis on leanness. Despite this, female bodybuilding athletes have received little attention. Aim To investigate differences in eating attitudes, behaviours and beliefs in female bodybuilding athletes and a non-athlete group. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used with the eating attitude test-26 (EAT-26) distributed to 75 women (49.3% bodybuilding athletes; 50.7% non-athletes) and the female athlete screening tool (FAST) distributed to the female bodybuilding group only. Results Demographic characteristics revealed no significant difference in age, stature or body mass index (P = 0.106 to 0.173), though differences in body mass were evident (P = 0.0001 to 0.042). Bodybuilding athletes scored significantly higher (P = 0.001) than non-athletes on the EAT-26 questionnaire, with significantly more athletes (56.8%) being labelled as ‘at risk’ of an ED than non-athletes (23.7%, P = 0.001). Responses to the FAST questionnaire indicated female bodybuilding athletes have high preoccupation with their body mass; engage in exercise to alter their body mass; and disclosed negative perceptions of themselves. Conclusion In all, female bodybuilding athletes demonstrate behaviours associated with DE and EDs as well as a preoccupation with nutrition intake, exercise, and strategies to alter their appearance. These findings have important implications for those managing female bodybuilding athletes such as strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, nutritionist and dietitians with respect to detecting DE and EDs as well as minimising the risk factors.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 698-707
Author(s):  
Tarfa Albrahim ◽  
Anwar Abdullah Alrubaish ◽  
Jewaher Turki Saleh Alfadhliah ◽  
Manal Khalid Alaskar ◽  
Mona Abdulla Alatawi ◽  
...  

To explore the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes among the students of the Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 396 (18-24 years) undergraduate students from the PNU were requested to participate, after acquiring their verbal consent. The two-part questionnaire included the demographic and anthropometric data like age, weight and height in the first part, while the assessment of the disordered eating attitudes according to the tools listed in the Eating Attitude Test 26 (EAT-26) were included in the second part. A total score of 20 or more on questions 1-26 was classified as being at risk of eating disorders. The study showed 145 students (36.8%) in all, fell under the class of high level of concern for an eating disorder, registering a score of 20 or higher on the EAT-26. With respect to the EAT score among the BMI categories marked differences were evident on the EAT items, feeling extremely guilty after eating, occupied with a desire to be thinner, burning up calories during exercise, preoccupied with the thought of having fat on my body, eating diet food, feeling uncomfortable after eating sweets and engaging in dieting behavior, having gone on eating binges where I feel I may not be able to stop and feeling that others would prefer if I ate more food and other people think I am too thin. Besides, in comparison to students with normal weight, students who were underweight, overweight, and obese exhibited considerable disparities on the total EAT score. More than one third (36.6%) of females at PNU university, Saudi Arabia had disordered eating attitudes. The present study revealed that female students require awareness regarding proper nutrition.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez ◽  
Manuel Vicente-Martínez ◽  
Javier Sánchez-Sánchez ◽  
Laura Miralles-Amorós ◽  
María Martínez-Olcina ◽  
...  

(1) Background: The preoccupation with the increasing appearance of eating disorders (ED) in athletes continues to grow, especially in athletes who practice team sports. ED severely affects the eating habits of the athletes, who tend to use unhealthy approaches to control their body weight. The development of nutritional education and early interventions by training staff is essential, and these factors are widely perceived as beneficial in sports medicine. This study evaluates the frequency at which beach handball (BH) players develop ED, also comparing the differences by sex and age (junior: adolescents vs. senior: young adults). In addition, the relation between body composition variables and ED was studied. (2) Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 69 top elite handball players (36 males and 33 females) from the Spanish National BH Team; who were separated by age (junior: adolescents and senior: young adults). The athletes completed the Eating Attitudes Test in its 26 item version (EAT-26). (3) Results: The prevalence of ED indicated that 11% of females had a high possibility of developing an ED, and 3% of males. Regarding the EAT-26 total score and subscales, no significant differences were found between female and male participants, or between the junior and senior categories. The correlations showed an association between body composition, in terms of body mass index, and the EAT-26 total score in both males and females. In the case of males, the correlation was negative. (4) Conclusions: Although there are no significant differences between sex or categories, it has been found that elite athletes are a population that is at high risk of developing ED.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Tamer Ghraiybah

Aim: To measure the prevalence of disordered eating Attitude among Rural Jordanian adolescents. A secondary Purpose of the current study is to identify the intrinsic correlates of disordered eating attitude among Jordanian adolescents.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in this study. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to recruit participants from public and private schools from 8 districts. Online survey consists of 4 parts of the Self-administered questionnaire and Body mass index measurement was used to collect data from the participants. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Multi logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis.Result: results revealed that the prevalence of disordered eating Attitude was 23.6% among participants (16.4% for boys and 29.4% for girls). Body Mass Index was significantly associated with disordered eating attitude (p< 0.001). 44.4% of adolescents who perceived their body image as obese or overweight developed disordered eating attitude (p< 0.001). The difference in the mean of body esteem scores between adolescents with disordered eating attitude and normal eating attitude was found to be statistically significant; t (736) = 5.20 (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Findings of the current study have implication for the primary prevention of disordered eating attitude. School nurses in the best position to conduct school-based primary prevention for disordered eating attitude. Findings also suggest a farther primary prevention program such as educational intervention


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-84
Author(s):  
Aqeel Aslam ◽  
Ushna Laraib ◽  
Iqra Afzal ◽  
Shingraf Zaib ◽  
Asma Riaz ◽  
...  

The prevalence of eating disorders among University students has been on rise throughout the world. The present descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of eating disorders among the female students of pharmacy department at University of Sargodha, Pakistan using well established EAT-26 questionnaire. The study included 177 female undergraduate pharmacy students from all five years of Pharm D. An EAT-26 score over 20 was indicator of disturbed eating behavior. Out of the total 177 students who participated the study, 47 (26.6%) students had disturbed eating behavior. The mean EAT-26 score was 14.7. According to BMI calculations, 31.64% of total individuals were underweight, 59.32% normal, 6.78% overweight and 2.26% belonged to obese category. The prevalence of eating disorders was found to be much higher than the studies conducted at developed countries. There is an urgent need of an effort to increase awareness of such disorders among students and general public. Conduction of such study at other institutes and at larger scale is recommended.


2016 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
pp. 501-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Angélica Kurpel Diogo ◽  
Gabriel Gomes de Oliveira Ribas ◽  
Thelma Larocca Skare

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The pursuit of perfection can cause anxiety and lead dancers to exceed their physical limits. The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence of pain symptoms and eating disorders among professional and amateur dancers. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational cross-sectional study; Curitiba, PR, Brazil. METHODS: Data on 150 professional and non-professional practitioners of ballet, jazz and street dance were collected through specific questionnaires: Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-T-6 (STAI-T-6). RESULTS: Pain was observed in 58.6% of the sample, equally between professionals and amateurs (P = 0.19). Ballet dancers had more lower-limb pain than the other groups (P = 0.05). EAT-26 showed a tendency towards more eating disorders among the amateurs (P = 0.06). Higher risk of eating disorders was found among ballet dancers (P = 0.004) and jazz practitioners (P = 0.02) than among street dancers. Amateurs had more symptoms on the BITE scale (P < 0.0001), more pain (P = 0.002) and higher anxiety (P < 0.0001). Eating disorders were more common among females (P = 0.01) and singles (P = 0.02). Professionals were more satisfied with their own body image than amateurs (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pain symptoms were found in almost half of the sample, equally among professionals and amateurs as well as between the three dance styles. Female and singles had more eating disorders. Those with eating disorders had higher levels of pain and anxiety.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Waseem Fatima ◽  
Leena M. Ahmad

Eating disorders (ED) are one of the most common psychiatric problems faced by todays adolescent girls where the attitude towards weight and shape as well as their perception of body shape are disturbed. The aim of the paper is to assess the prevalence and associated factors of disordered eating attitudes among adolescent girls of Arar city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is a cross-sectional survey design in which 314 adolescents females (age: 15-19 years) were selected from four schools of Arar city, KSA. Subjects were asked to fill pre-tested questionnaire about socioeconomic status, eating habits and Eating attitude test 26 (EAT 26), there height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Disturbed eating behaviors (EAT-26>20) was found in 25.47% participants. The prevalence of disordered eating was more in overweight and obese than normal weight. Vegetarian girls had higher EAT 26 score than non - vegetarian and significant difference was found in total EAT 26 score and subgroup namely oral control and dieting score (P<0.01) but non-significant difference was found between Saudi and non-Saudi adolescent girls in different BMI ranges. Eating disorders prevalent in adolescent girls and were strongly associated with weight status and eating habits. Future prospective and experimental studies are warranted to advance our understanding of the risk factors to enable better preventive program planning.


2009 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Lúcia Magalhães Bosi ◽  
Kátia Yumi Uchimura ◽  
Ronir Raggio Luiz

OBJECTIVE: To characterize eating habits and possible risk factors associated with eating disorders among psychology students, a segment at risk for eating disorders. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study. The questionnaires Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and a variety that considers related issues were applied. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.0 was utilized in analysis. The study population was composed of 175 female students, with a mean age of 21.2 (DP ± 3.6 years). RESULTS: A positive result was detected on the EAT-26 for 6.9% of the cases (CI95%: 3.6-11.7%). The prevalence of increased symptoms and intense gravity, according to the BITE questionnaire was 5% (CI95%: 2.4-9.5%) and 2.5% (CI95%: 0.7-6.3%), respectively. According to the findings, 26.29% of the students presented abnormal eating behavior. The population with moderate/severe BSQ scores presented dissatisfaction with corporal weight. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that attention must be given to eating behavior risks within this group. A differentiated gaze is justified with respect to these future professionals, whose practice is jeopardized in cases in which they are themselves the bearers of installed symptoms or precursory behavior.


Author(s):  
Manila Sharma ◽  
Sunil Kumar Singh ◽  
Poornima Tiwari ◽  
Nitesh Chauhan

Background: Body image perception is being shaped by unrealistic ideals portrayed in the media. Body dissatisfaction is one of the most consistent and robust risk factors for eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression, and obesity. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to ascertain the body image perception, abnormal eating attitudes and the role of media among undergraduate students of a medical college in Delhi, India.Methods: Cross-sectional study on 370 undergraduate medical students of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India selected using stratified random sampling. India. Students completed a self-administered questionnaire which consist of demographic information, perceived body image, Eating Attitudes test (EAT-26) to assess eating attitudes, Socio Cultural Attitude Towards Appearance Questionnaire 3(SATAQ-3) scale for the role of media on body image perception. Data was analyzed using SPSS v21.Results: A total of 370 students (57.6% males and 42.4% females) aged 17-30 years, mean age of 20.30 years±2.02(SD). Abnormal body image perception was seen in 35.4%, 21.1% had abnormal eating attitude (EAT-26≥20), 36.5%, 40.5% agreed to be influenced by models and athletic figures in media respectively, 42.2% accepted that media was their source of information regarding standards of attractiveness, 27.6% felt pressured to be attractive according to SATAQ-3. Males more than females had disordered eating attitudes and felt media pressure to achieve an ideal body image. Significant association was observed between age and perceived body image (p=0.033), gender and EAT-26 score (p=0.039), EAT 26 and perceived body image (p=0.006), general internalization of media and perceived body image (p=0.003), internalization-general, internalization-athlete, media as source of information and EAT-26 score (<0.001, 0.001, 0.003 respectively).Conclusions: The media should take more responsibility to not represent unrealistic ideals of body image concerning both males and females. Educational and preventive efforts at institutional levels should be made to promote a healthy body image and eating behaviours.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 114-119
Author(s):  
Nastaran Miri ◽  
Mostafa Noroozi ◽  
Rosa Zavoshy ◽  
Neda Ezzeddin

Background and aims: Body image is defined as a complex concept involving a person’s thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about his/her body. The body image dissatisfaction may expose the individuals, specifically athletes, to eating disorders (EDs). The aim of this study is to assess the association of body image score with EDs and anthropometric measures in students from university sports teams. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 225 students from sports teams of Qazvin University in 2014. The samples were selected by the census method. The Multidimensional BodySelf Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), eating attitudes test (EAT-26) questionnaire, and demographic information questionnaire were used for collecting data. Anthropometric characteristics were also measured. The data were analyzed in SPSS software version 22.0. Results: The result of the study showed that the association of body image score with age (P=0.012, OR=0.80, CI=0.179, 1.437) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) (P=0.013, OR=-52.14, CI=-93.20, -11.08) was positively significant. Although the mean body image score was lower in students with EDs, it was not statistically significant. In addition, there was not a significant association between body image score and other variables such as marital status, gender, educational level, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and hip circumference (HC) (P>0.05). Conclusion: In this study, the body image had a positive significant association with age, and a negative significant one with WHtR. This may indicate that abdominal obesity plays an important role in body image satisfaction among students from the university sports teams.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-176
Author(s):  
Abdullah Hasan Alhazmi ◽  
Abdulaziz Al Johani

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of eating disorders among health specialties students in Taiba University. Stratified and systematic random sampling technique were employed to select 342 students. The validated Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) was used to measure eating disorders. The majority aged ≤22 years (64.6%), 25.4% were overweight and 9.9% were obese. High risk eating disorders was reported by 28.7% of respondents. The majority had GPA of ≤2.49. High risk eating disorders was significantly higher among females (OR=2.6, 95%CI 1.6-4.2), among those aged ≤22 years (OR=2.2, 95%CI 2.2-3.8), among those who had a GPA more than 2.49 (OR=2.2, 95%CI 1.2-4.3) and among those who are obese compared to underweight (OR= 3.1,95% CI 1.6-9.0). In conclusion, high risk eating disorders was relatively high and it was associated with gender, BMI, age and GPA.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document