Body-Esteem, Body Mass Index, and Risk for Disordered Eating among Adolescents in Synchronized Swimming

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine dimensions of body-esteem, Body Mass Index, and their relations with eating disorder symptoms among 42 elite adolescent athletes engaged in competitive synchronized swimming (M = 15.4 yr., SD = 1.2) and to compare them with 40 athletes in sports with no emphasis on leanness (M = 16.5 yr., SD = .93), and 50 nonathlete college female students (M = 16.3 yr., SD = 1.1). They completed the Body-esteem Scale and the Eating Attitudes Test, and the Body Mass Index was computed. Analysis showed synchronized swimmers reported greater negative feelings about their appearance than the two other groups and low perceptions of how others evaluate their physical appearance. Participants did not differ on the EAT-26. Regression analyses showed that Body Mass Index and Body-esteem Appearance accounted for 38% of the variance in log-transformed Dieting scores of synchronized swimmers. Results are discussed in relation to the literature.

Body Image, Anthropometric Measures, and Eating-Disorder Prevalence in Auxiliary Unit Members

“…Although we did not investigate possible contributing factors, the high prevalence estimation in female auxiliary members could be linked to a variety of factors, including self-esteem, selfimposed expectations regarding weight and its relation to performance and performance attire, societal pressures relating to body image, and expectations regarding weight and body fat. 9,30,31 Depending on the type of auxiliary unit (color guard, dance, majorette), these females may feel immense pressure from the viewing audience, which may be as large as 100 000 fans, to be thin. This pressure can also stem from the culture of the auxiliary unit, which may favor weight requirements or a thin appearance with no curves (or both).…”

Nutrition for Synchronized Swimming: A Review

“…The greatest pressure to lose weight was reported as coming from teammates (57.5%), followed by coaches (36.3%). Ferrand, Magnan, and Philippe (2005) used the EAT26 and a body-esteem scale with 42 elite adolescent synchronized swimmers matched with a nonaesthetic sport and nonathlete controls. The synchronized swimmers reported greater negative feelings about their appearance and low perceptions of how others evaluate their physical appearance relative to the both control groups.…”

“…It is also possible that junior athletes face more selection pressure trying to make it to the senior levels, causing them to go to great lengths to achieve the necessary physique (Ferrand et al, 2005).…”

Weight Management for Athletes: Important Things to be Considered

“…Other study showed that there was no difference about the weight-concerns between the synchronized swimmers and other "non-weight dependent sports types" such as basketball, volleyball, soccer [13].…”