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Li Q, Li H, Zhang G, Cao Y, Li Y. Athlete Body Image and Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review of Their Association and Influencing Factors. Nutrients 2024; 16:2686. [PMID: 39203822 PMCID: PMC11356870 DOI: 10.3390/nu16162686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Body image and eating disorders pose significant challenges to the overall health of athletes. However, divergent findings exist regarding the potential association between athletes' body image and eating disorders. This systematic review aims to examine the relationship between these two variables and identify the modifiers of the association, such as gender, age, race, and exercise type. A search was conducted in five databases (Web of Science, PubMed, APA PsycINFO, ProQuest, and EBSCO), aiming to identify studies on athletes and involved body image and eating disorders in their conclusions. Ultimately, thirty-one studies were included for systematic evaluation. The results of the studies indicate that the relationship between athletes' body image and eating disorders is complex and inconclusive. In some types of sports, eating disorders can occur even when athletes are satisfied with their body image. Furthermore, female athletes, particularly young female athletes, and athletes involved in sports associated with leanness are more prone to eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. Due to limited resources in this type of research, there is a lack of comprehensive inclusivity across sports disciplines, genders, races, and levels of sports proficiency, which warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Li
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China (G.Z.)
| | - Hansen Li
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China (G.Z.)
| | - Guodong Zhang
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China (G.Z.)
- International College, Krirk University, Bangkok 10220, Thailand
| | - Yang Cao
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Orebro University, 70182 Orebro, Sweden;
- Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yun Li
- College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China (G.Z.)
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Maurin J, Labossière S, Pomerleau-Fontaine L, Boudreault V, Brassard S, Dion J, Durand-Bush N, Parent S, Soulard A. Personal risk factors and types of sport associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity in NextGen athletes. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1392064. [PMID: 38915858 PMCID: PMC11194407 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1392064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Professional and student-athletes are at risk of developing symptoms of eating disorders (ED), including drive for thinness and muscularity due to personal risk factors (e.g., low self-esteem) and sport-specific characteristics (e.g., sport requirements). However, limited studies have focused on ED symptoms among NextGen athletes (identified in Canada as élite or relève) who compete at the provincial, national, and international levels but are not yet part of national teams. As such, they have access to fewer financial resources and support from their sport federations, which can create additional stress for these athletes. The present study aimed to identify personal risk factors and types of sports associated with (a) drive for thinness and (b) drive for muscularity in NextGen athletes. Methods These athletes (n = 254) aged between 14 and 25 years old completed an online questionnaire. Perfectionism, self-esteem in sport, drive for thinness, and drive for muscularity were, respectively, assessed by the Multidimensional Inventory of Perfectionism in Sport, the Sport State Self-Esteem Scale, the Eating Attitude Test-26, and the Drive for Muscularity Scale. Other personal risk factor (e.g., athletic status) were measured using in-house questions. Each personal risk factor was included in two multiple linear regressions, respectively, to determine which factors were most associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. Results Analyses revealed that perfectionist aspirations during training were linked to a stronger desire for thinness. In addition, not being in school or not having a job were also linked to a stronger desire for thinness. Several variables were found to be associated with a greater desire for muscularity: being a male athlete, playing team sport, weight category sport or endurance sport (as opposed to esthetic sport), having elite status, being less satisfied with one's current sporting performance and having higher perfectionist aspirations during training. Discussion This study offers initial insights into the factors influencing EDs among NextGen athletes, which provides a foundation for deeper exploration and the creation or modification of targeted interventions. These findings can guide sport organizations in creating guidelines and programs to better support the next generation of national athletes (e.g., create programs to help athletes maintain investments outside).
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Maurin
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Sophie Labossière
- Research Chair in Security and Integrity in Sport, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychoeducation, Faculty of Education, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Lara Pomerleau-Fontaine
- Research Chair in Security and Integrity in Sport, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Faculty of Human Kinetics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | | | - Sophie Brassard
- Faculty of Human Kinetics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Jacinthe Dion
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Natalie Durand-Bush
- School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sylvie Parent
- Research Chair in Security and Integrity in Sport, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- International Research Network on Violence and Integrity in Sport (IRNOVIS), Antwerp, Belgium
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problem and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Équipe Violence Sexuelle et Santé (ÉVISSA), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Amélie Soulard
- Faculty of Human Kinetics, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Ghazzawi HA, Nimer LS, Haddad AJ, Alhaj OA, Amawi AT, Pandi-Perumal SR, Trabelsi K, Seeman MV, Jahrami H. A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide. J Eat Disord 2024; 12:24. [PMID: 38326925 PMCID: PMC10851573 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-024-00982-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide a pooled prevalence estimate of self-reported disordered eating (SRDE) in athletes based on the available literature, and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. METHODS Across ten academic databases, an electronic search was conducted from inception to 7th January 2024. The proportion of athletes scoring at or above predetermined cutoffs on validated self-reporting screening measures was used to identify disordered eating (DE). Subgroup analysis per country, per culture, and per research measure were also conducted. Age, body mass index (BMI), and sex were considered as associated/correlated factors. RESULTS The mean prevalence of SRDE among 70,957 athletes in 177 studies (132 publications) was 19.23% (17.04%; 21.62%), I2 = 97.4%, τ2 = 0.8990, Cochran's Q p value = 0. Australia had the highest percentage of SRDE athletes with a mean of 57.1% (36.0%-75.8%), while Iceland had the lowest, with a mean of 4.9% (1.2%-17.7%). The SRDE prevalence in Eastern countries was higher than in Western countries with 29.1% versus 18.5%. Anaerobic sports had almost double the prevalence of SRDE 37.9% (27.0%-50.2%) compared to aerobic sports 19.6% (15.2%-25%). Gymnastics sports had the highest SRDE prevalence rate, with 41.5% (30.4%-53.6%) while outdoor sports showed the lowest at 15.4% (11.6%-20.2%). Among various tools used to assess SRDE, the three-factor eating questionnaire yielded the highest SRDE rate 73.0% (60.1%-82.8%). Meta-regression analyses showed that female sex, older age, and higher BMI (all p < 0.01) are associated with higher prevalence rates of SRDE. CONCLUSION The outcome of this review suggests that factors specific to the sport affect eating behaviors throughout an athlete's life. As a result, one in five athletes run the risk of developing an eating disorder. Culture-specific and sport-specific diagnostic tools need to be developed and increased attention paid to nutritional deficiencies in athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadeel A Ghazzawi
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Lana S Nimer
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Areen Jamal Haddad
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Omar A Alhaj
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan
| | - Adam T Amawi
- Department of Exercise Science and Kinesiology, School of Sport Science, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Seithikurippu R Pandi-Perumal
- Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Khaled Trabelsi
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia
- Research Laboratory: Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, University of Sfax, EM2S, LR19JS013000, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mary V Seeman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Haitham Jahrami
- Ministry of Health, Manama, Bahrain.
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.
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