Eating disorders in young female athletes is a serious psychological and health disease
which could become an early problem on Female Athlete Triad. Eating disorders are
influenced by internal and external factors. This study aimed to determine the risk factors
for eating disorders in young female athletes. An observational study with a crosssectional design on eighty-six young female athletes was conducted with consecutive
sampling method. Subjects in this study were athletes in athletics, weightlifting,
volleyball, beach volleyball, swimming, rowing, fencing, Pencak Silat, karate, taekwondo,
judo, sepak takraw, table tennis, and boxing. The inclusion criteria of the subject athletes
were young female athletes aged 11-21 years registered at the study site, did not consume
alcohol, and voluntary. The nutritional status of the subjects was measured by their Body
Mass Index for age score. Eating disorder was measured using the Eating Attitude Test-26
questionnaire and Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale for the type of eating disorders,
Rosenberg Self Esteem for Self Confidence, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-42 for stress
level, and Body Shape Questionnaire for body image perception. This study used
univariate analysis, bivariate analysis with chi-square and multivariate analysis with
logistic regression test. The prevalence of eating disorders risk among the young female
athletes in this study was approximately 37.2%, where 9.3% of subjects were bulimia,
5.8% were on the binge of eating disorder, and 22.1% subjects experienced eating disorder
not otherwise specified (EDNOS). The multivariate analysis showed that the risk factor of
eating disorders in young female athletes was the negative body image perception (p =
<0.001; RP:10.5) and stress (p = 0.023; RP:3.5). Nutritional status, self-confidence, and
type of exercise were not proven as the risk factors of eating disorder among young
female athletes. Based on this study, it can be concluded that the negative body image
perception and stress are the risk factors of eating disorders among young female athletes.
The Study of the Weight Control Experiences, Body Image Perception and Eating Disorder Status of High School Students in Yantai City, Shandong Province, China
