Athletes with Eating Disorders: Analysis of Their Clinical Characteristics, Psychopathology and Response to Treatment

Abstract

Eating disorders (ED) have frequently been described among athletes. However, their specific features and therapy responses are lacking in the literature. The aims of this article were to compare clinical, psychopathological and personality traits between ED patients who were professional athletes (ED-A) with those who were not (ED-NA) and to explore differences in response to treatment. The sample comprised n = 104 patients with ED (n = 52 ED-A and n = 52 matched ED-NA) diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria. Evaluation consisted of a semi-structured face-to-face clinical interview conducted by expert clinicians and a psychometric battery. Treatment outcome was evaluated when the treatment program ended. ED-A patients showed less body dissatisfaction and psychological distress. No differences were found in treatment outcome among the groups. Within the ED-A group, those participants who performed individual sport activities and aesthetic sports presented higher eating psychopathology, more general psychopathology, differential personality traits and poor therapy outcome. Individual and aesthetic sports presented more severity and worse prognosis. Although usual treatment for ED might be similarly effective in ED-A and ED-NA, it might be important to develop preventive and early detection programs involving sports physicians and psychologists, coaches and family throughout the entire athletic career and afterwards.

Eating Disorders and Addictive Behaviors: Implications for Human Health

“…These individuals can also emphasize appearance and overvalue the belief that lower body weight will improve performance [18]. The study by Ibañez-Caparrós and colleagues included in this issue observed that, when comparing ED patients who were professional athletes with those who were not, the athletes showed less body dissatisfaction and better psychological performance [19]. However, within the athlete group, individual sport activity and aesthetic sports (such as gymnastics, diving, and figure skating) were associated with worse clinical profiles (higher eating-disorder symptom levels and more comorbid psychological problems) and poorer therapy outcomes.…”