Eating Disorders, Physical Fitness and Sport Performance: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Eating disorders are health problems that are particularly prevalent in adolescents and young adults. They are associated with considerable physical health and psychosocial morbidity, and increased risk of mortality. We set out to conduct a systematic review to determine their effect on physical fitness in the general population and on sport performance in athletes. Methods/Design: A systematic review of the relevant peer-reviewed literature was performed. For inclusion, articles retrieved from PubMed had to be published in English between 1977 and 2013. Wherever possible, methods and reporting adhere to the guidelines outlined in the PRISMA statement. Some additional studies were retrieved from among those cited in the reference lists of included studies and from non-electronic databases. Literature searches, study selection, method and quality appraisal were performed independently by two authors, and data was synthesized using a narrative approach. Results: Of the 1183 articles retrieved, twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were consequently analysed. The available data indicate that eating disorders have a negative effect on physical fitness and sport performance by causing low energy availability, excessive loss of fat and lean mass, dehydration, and electrolyte disturbance. Discussion: Although the paucity of the available data mean that findings to date should be interpreted with caution, the information collated in this review has several practical implications. First, eating disorders have a negative effect on both physical fitness and sport performance. Second athletics coaches should be targeted for education about the risk factors of eating disorders, as deterioration in sport performance in athletes, particularly if they are underweight or show other signs of an eating disorder, may indicate the need for medical intervention. However, future studies are needed, especially to assess the direct effect of eating disorders on sport performance.

Does Disordered Eating Impair the Performance of Female Swimmers in 100m and 200m Freestyle Races?

“…Estudos indicam que os atletas que adotam dietas alimentares restritivas e/ou medicamentos (laxantes, diuréticos e inibidores de apetite) em prol do rápido emagrecimento podem atenuar os estoques musculares de glicogênio 1,6 , o que gera atenuação do desempenho esportivo 22 . Os achados do presente estudo corroboram tais evidências.…”

“…Evidências indicam que a má reposição energética após sessões de treinamento pode, a longo prazo, deteriorar o desempenho de atletas no decorrer dos eventos competitivos 5 . Assim, pesquisadores ressaltam a possibilidade de atletas que utilizam comportamentos de risco para os transtornos alimentares (TA) atenuarem o desempenho esportivo 6,7 . São considerados comportamentos de risco para os TA: restrição alimentar por longos períodos, uso de medicamentos (laxantes, diuréticos e inibidores de apetite) para a rápida redução de peso corporal, autoindução de vômito e exercício físico extenuante 8 .…”

“…Neste sentido, recomenda-se que o nível de insatisfação corporal seja estatisticamente controlado em investigações concernentes aos comportamentos de risco para os TA em atletas 9 . Vale salientar, ainda, que os comportamentos de risco para os TA podem atenuar o desempenho esportivo 6 , principalmente em razão da possível redução dos estoques de substratos energéticos 5 . Fortes et al 11 revelaram atenuação da capacidade anaeróbia de ciclistas de estrada do sexo masculino que adotavam comportamentos de risco para os TA.…”

“…Por conseguinte, foram formuladas algumas hipóteses em função dos apontamentos de duas revisões sistemáticas 6,8 : a) nadadoras com grande frequência de uso dos comportamentos de risco para os TA têm menor desempenho nas provas dos 100m e 200m livre e; b) restrição alimentar, comportamentos alimentares compulsivos e purgativos estão relacionados negativamente ao desempenho nas provas de 100m e 200m livre em nadadoras.…”

Psychometric Analysis of Disordered Eating in Sports Scale (DES)

“…Hence, the items were initially based on the findings of two qualitative studies (De Bruin, Oudejans, Bakker, & Woertman, 2011;Plateau et al, 2014) and reports of two systematic reviews (Bratland-Sanda & Sundgot-Borgen, 2013;El Ghoch et al, 2013).…”