Self-reported eating disorder risk in lean and non-lean NCAA Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this present study was to examine gender differences in overall scores on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college athletes in “lean” sports versus “non-lean” sports.

Methods
Using a self-report survey design, this study examined eating disorder risk in 121 NCAA college athletes, using the EAT-26. We expected that female athletes and athletes in “lean” sports would report higher scores on the EAT-26.

Results
There was a significant effect of sport type (lean vs. non-lean) on eating attitudes and behaviors, with those in non-lean sports reporting higher scores, on average, on the attitudinal measure and those in lean sports reporting, on average, higher scores on the behavioral measure. There was an interaction between gender and sport type (lean vs. non-lean) on eating attitudes and behaviors. Male athletes in non-lean sports had the highest overall average scores on the attitudinal portion of the EAT-26, and males in lean sports had the lowest scores. However, on the EAT-26 behavioral portion, men in lean sports reported significantly higher scores than did men in non-lean sports. Female athletes, regardless of sport type, reported similar scores on both the EAT- 26 attitudinal and behavioral sections.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that athletes, regardless of sport type and gender, may be affected by eating disorder symptomatology. Gender differences may be smaller in athletic populations than previously thought. Sport type may affect whether disordered eating symptomatology presents as attitudinal or behavioral in nature, especially in male athletes.

Level of evidence
Descriptive study, Level V.

Full text

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity (2020) 25:745–750
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00681-0
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Self-reported eating disorder risk inlean andnon-lean NCAA
Collegiate Athletes
AnnaHoldimanMcDonald1· MaryPritchard1 · MaryKateMcGuire2
Received: 21 January 2019 / Accepted: 18 March 2019 / Published online: 2 April 2019
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this present study was to examine gender differences in overall scores on the Eating Attitudes Test
(EAT-26) in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college athletes in “lean” sports versus “non-lean” sports.
Methods Using a self-report survey design, this study examined eating disorder risk in 121 NCAA college athletes, using
the EAT-26. We expected that female athletes and athletes in “lean” sports would report higher scores on the EAT-26.
Results There was a significant effect of sport type (lean vs. non-lean) on eating attitudes and behaviors, with those in
non-lean sports reporting higher scores, on average, on the attitudinal measure and those in lean sports reporting, on aver-
age, higher scores on the behavioral measure. There was an interaction between gender and sport type (lean vs. non-lean)
on eating attitudes and behaviors. Male athletes in non-lean sports had the highest overall average scores on the attitudinal
portion of the EAT-26, and males in lean sports had the lowest scores. However, on the EAT-26 behavioral portion, men in
lean sports reported significantly higher scores than did men in non-lean sports. Female athletes, regardless of sport type,
reported similar scores on both the EAT- 26 attitudinal and behavioral sections.
Conclusions Our findings suggest that athletes, regardless of sport type and gender, may be affected by eating disorder
symptomatology. Gender differences may be smaller in athletic populations than previously thought. Sport type may affect
whether disordered eating symptomatology presents as attitudinal or behavioral in nature, especially in male athletes.
Level of evidence Descriptive study, Level V.
Keywords Athletes· Eating disorder risk· EAT-26· Lean· Non-lean
Introduction
Eating disorder (ED) pathology has been acknowledged and
studied in athletes of all types. It has been suggested that
some eating disorders (as well as some eating disordered
attitudes and behaviors) are more prevalent in athletes than
in the general population [1, 2, but see 2]. Athletes are vul-
nerable to eating disorder pathology due to personal pressure
to achieve merit, while also facing institutional, social, team,
familial and financial pressure to perform [3–7]. These pres-
sures coupled with a rigorously competitive environment
can be a breeding ground for ED risk; and for these reasons,
treatment and recovery often look different for athletes than
for non-athletes [7].
Research suggests that between 1 and 62% of athletes
demonstrate risk for the development of an eating disor-
der [8]. The apparent inconsistencies amongst reported
numbers of athletes who present with disordered eating
risk may be the result of two factors: gender and sport
type (lean vs. non-lean). Athletes in sports that emphasize
leanness as a means to improve performance, have weight
classes, or are judged aesthetically are at increased risk for
the development of eating disorders [9–12]. Sports of this
nature are termed “lean” sports (e.g., distance running,
wrestling, gymnastics). Athletes in these “lean” sports
may engage in restrictive eating, skipping meals, fasting,
laxatives [3], diet pills, excessive exercise or other risky
behaviors considered part of disordered eating as a means
of enhancing performance [4]. However, sports termed as
“non-lean” (that is, sports in which leanness is not con-
sidered to provide a competitive advantage, do not have
* Mary Pritchard
marypritchard@boisestate.edu
1 Department ofPsychological Sciences, Boise State
University, 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID83725-1715, USA
2 College ofHealth Sciences, Boise State University, Boise,
USA
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