Eating Disorders in Sport: Comparing Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Athletes and Non-Athletes During Intensive Eating Disorder Treatment

Fewell, Laura; Nickols, Riley; Tierney, Amanda Schlitzer; Levinson, Cheri A.

doi:10.1123/jcsp.2018-0046

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…To our knowledge, no study has examined differences in disordered eating psychopathology between athletes with secondary exercise dependence and those with disordered eating alone. However, in those with a clinical eating disorder, compulsive exercise is associated with greater eating disorder pathology [ 33 , 34 ]. Compulsive exercise represents an urge to perform exercise with the intent to escape anxiety that arises from the imagined negative consequences of not exercising [ 12 ] and better reflects exercise behaviours that are secondary to disordered eating than exercise dependence [ 12 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Relationship between Exercise Dependence, Disordered Eating, and Low Energy Availability

2021

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Both dietary and exercise behaviors need to be considered when examining underlying causes of low energy availability (LEA). The study assessed if exercise dependence is independently related to the risk of LEA with consideration of disordered eating and athlete calibre. Via survey response, female (n = 642) and male (n = 257) athletes were categorized by risk of: disordered eating, exercise dependence, disordered eating and exercise dependence, or if not presenting with disordered eating or exercise dependence as controls. Compared to female controls, the likelihood of being at risk of LEA was 2.5 times for female athletes with disordered eating and >5.5 times with combined disordered eating and exercise dependence. Male athletes with disordered eating, with or without exercise dependence, were more likely to report signs and symptoms compared to male controls-including suppression of morning erections (OR = 3.4; p < 0.0001), increased gas and bloating (OR = 4.0–5.2; p < 0.002) and were more likely to report a previous bone stress fracture (OR = 2.4; p = 0.01) and ≥22 missed training days due to overload injuries (OR = 5.7; p = 0.02). For both males and females, in the absence of disordered eating, athletes with exercise dependence were not at an increased risk of LEA or associated health outcomes. Compared to recreational athletes, female and male international caliber and male national calibre athletes were less likely to be classified with disordered eating.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Relationship between Exercise Dependence, Disordered Eating, and Low Energy Availability

2021

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“…Results also indicated that athletes’ attitudes and expectations regarding an ideal body are modeled by friends and team norms. Thus, another recommendation is to discourage activities and comments that draw attention to athletes’ weight, such as public weighing or comparing athletes’ bodies [17, 27]. Coaches should also intervene when they hear negative body-related comments expressed by athletes on the team.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1. Risk factors for eating disorders and investigated aspects in the present study [1,3,4,5,18,25,27,29,30,31]…”

Section: Procedures and Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with disordered eating and eating disorder symptoms in adolescent elite athletes

2022

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Abstract. Introduction: Recent studies indicate high prevalences of disordered eating or eating disorders in adult athletes and a worrying increase in adolescent athletes. Although several risk factors for developing eating disorders have been identified for adult athletes (e.g., personality factors, sport-related pressure), research on risk factors in adolescent athletes is scarce. Methods: This study investigates the prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorder symptoms and its association with personality- and sport-related risk factors in a sample of 439 elite athletes aged 13–18 years. Self-regulatory personality factors, sports and social pressure, as well as sports biographical data, were investigated in relation to different weight control methods and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire measuring disordered eating and eating disorder symptoms. Results: Results indicate a prevalence rate of clinically significant eating pathology of 5.5% for the total sample, in which female athletes aged 15–18 years show the highest rate (9.6%). The structural equation model indicates a predominant association of sports and social pressure and personality factors with eating disorder symptoms. Conclusion: Being in the age range 15–18 years, being female, and being an athlete in a high-risk sport (e.g., aesthetics, weight class, or endurance sports) were identified as risk factors as well as athletes’ mental association with weight loss and success, and athletes’ perceived social pressure on eating and on body shape. Disordered eating and eating disorders are not only of concern for adults but also for young elite athletes and recommendations for adolescent elite athletes, coaches, and parents are given.

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“…The current study was part of a larger study examining outcomes within an intensive ED treatment program. Psychological measures from this larger study are reported elsewhere (Fewell, Levinson, & Stark, 2017;Fewell, Nickols, Tierney, & Levinson, 2018). A total of 21 male and female athlete patients and 36 male and female non-athlete patients who were enrolled in either residential or partial hospitalization treatment at an ED treatment facility between December 2012 and June 2017 were included in this study.…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strength and Power Improvements in Athlete and Non-Athletes During Intensive Eating Disorder Treatment

Fewell

Nickols²,

Tierney³

et al. 2018

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

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Understanding the unique needs of athletes who undergo eating disorder (ED) treatment is sorely needed. This study explores changes of strength and power in athlete (n = 21) and non-athlete (n = 36) patients from intake to discharge. Maximal oxygen consumption, vertical jump, push-ups, hand grip strength, and body mass index (in anorexia nervosa; AN) were measured among treatment center patients. The number of push-ups and hand grip strength were significantly improved upon discharge in the full sample (ps < .005) and in AN only (ps < .001). Body mass index was also significantly higher in AN (p < .001). Maximal oxygen consumption and vertical jump did not significantly improve between admission and discharge in either group (ps > .40). This study is the first to investigate measures of strength in athletes engaged in intensive eating disorder treatment and indicates the need to address the psychological mindset around physical activity using exercise education as part of a comprehensive program. Recommendations for incorporating exercise into an intensive ED treatment center are also provided.

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Eating Disorders in Sport: Comparing Eating Disorder Symptomatology in Athletes and Non-Athletes During Intensive Eating Disorder Treatment

Cited by 15 publications

References 54 publications

Examining the Relationship between Exercise Dependence, Disordered Eating, and Low Energy Availability

Examining the Relationship between Exercise Dependence, Disordered Eating, and Low Energy Availability

Factors associated with disordered eating and eating disorder symptoms in adolescent elite athletes

Strength and Power Improvements in Athlete and Non-Athletes During Intensive Eating Disorder Treatment

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