Body Image and Disturbed Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Sport-Involved Adolescents: The Role of Gender and Sport Characteristics

Abstract

Disordered eating in adolescents who participate in sports is an issue of great concern. However, very few studies have examined the prevalence of sport-related determinants of disturbed eating attitudes and behaviours (DEABs) in sport-involved adolescents. The present study aims to assess body image and DEABs in the sample of adolescents involved in a sport of different characteristics (competitive sport, leisure sport; weight-sensitive and less-weight-sensitive sport) and to compare the results with those of the controls. A total sample of 732 adolescents (437 (59.4%) were female) participated in the study. The participants ranged in age from 16 to 19 years (mean = 17.2, SD = 0.6). Study participants completed a questionnaire assessing sports characteristics, body image, disordered eating, and health-compromising eating behaviours. Analysis of covariance was used to test the differences of major study variables between controls and weight-sensitive and less-weight-sensitive leisure and competitive sports groups. There was no significant difference observed in DEABs between the sports groups. Competitive athletes reported more satisfaction with body image than controls. The girls participating in weight-sensitive leisure sports reported higher overweight preoccupation and greater DEABs compared to those participating in less-weight-sensitive leisure sports. Boys participating in weight-sensitive leisure sports reported a greater drive for muscularity-related behaviour compared to those participating in less-weight-sensitive leisure sports. There was no observed interaction between gender and weight sensitivity in the competitive sports group. Adolescents involved in a competitive sport demonstrated greater body image satisfaction and did not seem to present a greater risk for DEABs than controls. Special prevention attempts for lowering body image concerns and DEABs should be addressed for adolescents participating in a weight-sensitive leisure sports.

Examining Body Appreciation and Disordered Eating In Adolescents of Different Sports Practice: Cross-Sectional Study

“…Additionally, a lack of research exists specifically in regard to the potential relationships between positive body image and physical activity-related variables such as type of exercising (organised leisure exercising versus competitive athletics). Studies on adolescents have demonstrated that sports-involved adolescents report greater body image compared to non-exercisers [29,30]. Nevertheless, involvement in leisure fitness activities that emphasise appearance, such as dance, gym sports and other fitness clubs' organised activities, might compromise adolescent girls' body images [30].…”

“…Studies on adolescents have demonstrated that sports-involved adolescents report greater body image compared to non-exercisers [29,30]. Nevertheless, involvement in leisure fitness activities that emphasise appearance, such as dance, gym sports and other fitness clubs' organised activities, might compromise adolescent girls' body images [30]. In contrast, based on the developmental theory of embodiment [31], some recent studies have demonstrated that yoga can provide young women with the opportunity to cultivate a more favourable relationship with their bodies [27,32].…”

The main physical components of body image from the perspectives of Iranian adolescents: a qualitative study

“…In addition, participating in sports can influence adolescents’ perception of their ideal body. For example, it was reported that the drive for muscularity-related behaviors were more common among adolescent boys who participated in weight-sensitive leisure sport compared to their counterparts who participated in less weight-sensitive leisure sport [ 63 ]. Therefore, levels and types of physical activity and physical fitness can influence adolescents’ vision of an ideal body, with more active adolescents and those with better physical fitness preferring a more muscular body.…”

Nutritional Risks among Adolescent Athletes with Disordered Eating

“…Disordered eating prevalence is higher among adolescent elite athletes compared to their non-athlete peers and it may affect athletes of any gender, sport type or level of competition [16,17]. It is estimated that up to 45% of adolescent athletes develop disordered eating attitudes, especially females in aesthetic and weight-sensitive sports [16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. Disordered eating etiology is multi-factorial, as socio-cultural, psychological, family, biological and genetic factors interrelate [14].…”