Equation for Eating Disorder Risk Behaviors in Female Athletes

Abstract

Introduction: It is difficult to detect athletes at risk of eating disorders. Objective: The aim of this study was to create a predictive equation for eating disorder risk behaviors (EDRB) in female athletes. Methods: 484 athletes participated in the study. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to assess EDRB. The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 was used to analyze the sociocultural influence on body image. The Body Shape Questionnaire and the Body Checking and Avoidance Questionnaire were used to assess body dissatisfaction in relation to thinness, and body checking, respectively. Skinfold thickness, body weight and height were also measured. The demographic data collected were age and weekly training regime. Results: The findings indicate that body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), sociocultural influence, body checking and body dissatisfaction in relation to thinness explain 23% of the EDRB variance (p = 0.001). The results showed no difference between the EAT-26 scores and the predictive equation (p = 0.27). Conclusion: It was concluded that the predictive equation is reliable for evaluating EDRB in female athletes. Level of evidence III; study case-control.

Associations between anthropometry, body composition, and body image in athletes: a systematic review

“…Height and weight were used to calculate BMI in 25 of 27 studies (92.6%), yet 22 (81.5%) reported relationships between BMI and body image. %BF was evaluated in 11 studies (40.7%); nine (33.3%) used skinfold measurements ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 , 2015a , b , 2020 ; Goltz et al, 2013 ; Mockdece Neves et al, 2016 ; Hernández-Martínez et al, 2017 ; Kagawa et al, 2023 ; Salas-Morillas et al, 2023 ) to estimate %BF, while two (7.4%) utilized DXA ( Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ; Remmel et al, 2021 ), and one (3.7%) used dual-frequency BIA (DF-BIA) ( Kagawa et al, 2023 ). A limited number of studies also assessed FFM ( Kagawa et al, 2023 ), lean body mass ( Remmel et al, 2021 ), or fat-free mass index (FFMI) ( Hernández-Martínez et al, 2017 ; Kagawa et al, 2023 ) via DF-BIA, DXA, and skinfold or DF-BIA techniques, respectively.…”

“…Eleven of the 22 studies (50.0%) assessing an aspect of negative body image had all-female participants ( Karr et al, 2013 ; Voelker et al, 2014 ; de Sousa Fortes et al, 2015b , 2020 ; Aleksic-Veljkovic and Djurovic, 2020 ; Whitehead et al, 2020 ; Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ; Godoy-Izquierdo and Díaz, 2021 ; Remmel et al, 2021 ; Jardim et al, 2022 ; Kagawa et al, 2023 ), while four (18.2%) included only males ( Goltz et al, 2013 ; de Sousa Fortes et al, 2015a ; Hernández-Martínez et al, 2017 ; Voelker et al, 2018 ). All but one ( Remmel et al, 2021 ) of these studies reported significant positive associations between BMI, skinfolds or %BF and an aspect of body image disturbance.…”

“…Eleven studies (50%) assessed %BF or FM ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 , 2015a , b , 2020 ; Goltz et al, 2013 ; Mockdece Neves et al, 2016 ; Hernández-Martínez et al, 2017 ; Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ; Remmel et al, 2021 ; Kagawa et al, 2023 ; Salas-Morillas et al, 2023 ), using skinfolds ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 , 2015a , b , 2020 ; Goltz et al, 2013 ; Mockdece Neves et al, 2016 ; Hernández-Martínez et al, 2017 ; Salas-Morillas et al, 2023 ), DXA ( Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ; Remmel et al, 2021 ), or bioimpedance techniques ( Kagawa et al, 2023 ), and ten (90.9%) reported the results of quantitative assessments with an aspect of negative body image. Six of the 10 studies (60%) reported body fat was positively associated with body dissatisfaction and/or negative body attitudes ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 , 2015a , b , 2020 ; Goltz et al, 2013 ; Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ) in female ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2015b , 2020 ; Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ), male ( Goltz et al, 2013 ; de Sousa Fortes et al, 2015a ), and combined populations ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 ). Of these studies, most used skinfolds to generate estimates of %BF ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 , 2015a , b , 2020 ; Goltz et al, 2013 ), while one (10%) utilized DXA ( Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Six of the 10 studies (60%) reported body fat was positively associated with body dissatisfaction and/or negative body attitudes ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 , 2015a , b , 2020 ; Goltz et al, 2013 ; Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ) in female ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2015b , 2020 ; Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ), male ( Goltz et al, 2013 ; de Sousa Fortes et al, 2015a ), and combined populations ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 ). Of these studies, most used skinfolds to generate estimates of %BF ( de Sousa Fortes et al, 2013 , 2015a , b , 2020 ; Goltz et al, 2013 ), while one (10%) utilized DXA ( Eufrásio de Medeiros et al, 2021 ). A smaller number of studies ( n = 3; 13.6%) assessed FFM or lean body mass, or FFMI ( Hernández-Martínez et al, 2017 ; Remmel et al, 2021 ; Kagawa et al, 2023 ).…”

Obesidade e transtornos alimentares - conhecer para prevenir: relato de experiência

“…Somado à distorção na percepção da autoimagem, podem ser apontados como fatores comportamentais que contribuem para o desenvolvimento de transtornos alimentares a restrição da ingesta alimentar e calórica por longos períodos, episódios de vômito autoinduzido, uso de substâncias laxativas/diuréticas, e atividade física extenuante com o propósito de gerar déficit calórico. (Fortes et. al, 2020).…”