Likelihood of suffering from an eating disorder in a sample of Spanish cyclists and triathletes
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Likelihood of suffering from an eating disorder in a sample of Spanish cyclists and triathletes José J. Muros1*† , Ángela Ávila-Alche2†, Emily Knox3 and Mikel Zabala2
Abstract Background: During recent years, there has been increasing interest in the study of eating disorders within sports practitioners, with prevalence being reported to be higher than in the general population. The aim of this study was to describe and predict eating disorders according to sex, body mass index, age and sport discipline within a sample of athletes. Methods: A sample of 4037 cyclists and triathletes from across Spain was selected. Athletes self-reported demographic characteristics and completed the revised restraint scale, SCOFF questionnaire and Mediterranean diet adherence screener. To be eligible for inclusion, participants had to be over eighteen years old. Results: Males were significantly less likely than females (p < 0.001; OR = 0.33), and triathletes (p < 0.01; OR = 0.76) were less likely than cyclists to suffer from an eating disorder. Possibility of suffering from an eating disorder increased with increasing body mass index (p < 0.001; OR = 1.38) and decreasing age (p < 0.001; OR = 0.97). Conclusion: Findings suggest that the roles of sex, sport discipline, age and body mass index predict risk factors for eating disorders in a sample of Spanish athletes. Clinical diagnosis seems necessary to better understand the factors and mechanisms at play when Spanish athletes develop an eating disorder. Trial registration: Ethics Committee of the University of Granada (N°883) data: 16/11/2015. Keywords: Elite athletes, Eating disorders, Diet, BMI, Risk factors
Plain English summary Interest has recently increased in looking at eating disorders in people who participate in sport as they may suffer such disorders more than those who do not participate in sport. The aim of this study was to describe eating disorders in a group of athletes. It also looked at whether aspects such as sex, body mass (the ratio between weight and height), age and sport discipline made a disorder more likely. * Correspondence: [email protected] † José J. Muros and Ángela Ávila-Alche contributed equally to this work. 1 Department of Didactics of Corporal Expression, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de la Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
A total of 4037 cyclists and triathletes from across Spain were selected. Athletes reported demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender) and completed different questionnaires which measured their eating habits. All participants were over eighteen years old. Males were less likely than females to have an eating disorder. Also, triathletes were less likely than cyclists to have an eating disorder. Younger individuals and those with a higher body mass index were more likely to have an eating disorder. In this group of Spanish athletes, it appears that sex, the type of sport an individual participates in, age and bod
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