The Associations Between the Anorexic Readiness Syndrome, Familism, and Body Image Among Physically Active Girls

Abstract

Introduction:Anorexic Readiness Syndrome (ARS) is a construct of prophylactic importance, useful in the selection of people showing a tendency to use restrictive diets and increased concentration on the body. The aim of the research was to verify the significance of the type of physical activity, body perception and familism for the development of ARS.Material and Method: The research was carried out in the first half of 2021on a sample of 163 girls. It consisted of: (1) physically inactive girls (n = 48), (2) physically active girls in disciplines other than aesthetic (n = 69), (3) girls engaged in aesthetic physical activity (n = 46). The study used: Anorexic Readiness Syndrome Questionnaire (ARS-12), Familism Scale (FS) and Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ).Results: The highest average ARS score was recorded in the group of girls engaged in aesthetic activity. A significant difference in the severity of ARS occurs between people who do not engage in activity and those who practice aesthetic activity. The severity of ARS rises as the difference between real and ideal body weight increases. People active in aesthetic disciplines who obtained a high score on the Respect scale (FS subscale) have a lower ARS score than those physically active in other disciplines who obtained low scores on the Respect scale. The higher the score on the Material success and achievement scale (FS), the greater the ARS intensity in all subgroups. What is much more important in shaping ARS is the perception of your body. The focus on eating and body weight and Clothing and appearance (BIAQ subscales) are relevant to the ARS and moderate the relationship between Material success (FS subscale) and anorexic readiness.Conclusions: People engaging in aesthetic physical activity are more likely to suffer from ARS. The family can certainly prevent a child from developing anorexic readiness by shaping a sense of community and family identity, a clear division of roles, limiting the importance of materialism and competition in raising children. The prevention of ARS and eating disorders should also focus on strengthening the realistic assessment of body parameters and their acceptance, as well as promoting strategies for healthy weight control.

Anorexic Readiness Syndrome in Elite Female Acrobatic Gymnasts—International Study

“…This concept was introduced by a Polish psychologist, Ziółkowska [ 38 , 43 ], who describes it as a set of symptoms suggesting abnormalities in the realization of the nutritional need and in the attitude towards one’s own body, conditioned psychologically, socially, and culturally. The creation of this construct was primarily of a preventive nature, serving as an early recognition tool of anorexic tendencies in children and adolescents [ 44 , 45 ]. ARS has been defined as a set of indicators located primarily in the cognitive and behavioral sphere of an individuals’ functioning and confirming the occurrence of unhealthy eating behaviors and a rigorous perception of their own body and self [ 45 ].…”

“…The creation of this construct was primarily of a preventive nature, serving as an early recognition tool of anorexic tendencies in children and adolescents [ 44 , 45 ]. ARS has been defined as a set of indicators located primarily in the cognitive and behavioral sphere of an individuals’ functioning and confirming the occurrence of unhealthy eating behaviors and a rigorous perception of their own body and self [ 45 ]. It is not the same as any of the mental illnesses included in ICD-11 [ 46 ] and DSM-5 [ 47 ] in the EDs category, nor should it be considered a ‘subtype’ of anorexia nervosa.…”

“…A higher level of ARS does not determine the occurrence of anorexia nervosa but may indicate a tendency to anorexic behavior. These, in turn, may occur periodically and in a milder form than anorexia, but nevertheless may lead to the development of full-blown anorexia [ 43 , 45 ].…”

“…Previous studies on ARS have been carried out in groups of adult women [ 48 ] and teenage girls [ 49 ] from the general population in Poland. Research was also conducted among dancers aged 12–47 [ 50 ], ballet dancers and gymnasts aged 10–12 [ 33 ], and physically active teenage girls aged 10–17 [ 44 ] and aged 16–21 [ 45 ]. The Eating Attitudes Questionnaire (SGA-20) created by Ziółkowska [ 38 ] was used, among others, in studies carried out in a group of Polish dancers aged 11–25 [ 51 ] and a group of girls aged 15–17, including 71 girls from sports schools [ 52 ].…”