ENGLISH VERSIONevidenced that 16.6% of the athletes presented a non-usual dietary pattern according to symptoms, but with no significance in terms of severity. These athletes are included among those who are not happy with their body. No athlete had a positive results. The findings of this study suggest the presence of symptoms that do not actually characterize bulimia or anorexia nervosa, but they point to the need of a careful surveillance and assessment of eating disorders and their precursors among athletes, as a way of prevention.Key words: Eating disorders. Athletes. Amenorrhea. Body composition.
INTRODUCTIONThe model of beauty society imposes a lean body, without considering health-related aspects and the different physical features of the population. Such distorted beauty standard makes an increasing number of women to go on weight-control diets, to over-practice physical exercises, and to a wide use of laxatives, diuretics and anorectic drugs 1 . These are considered precursory behaviors of eating disorders -which include anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and the so-called non-specific eating disorders, among which the periodic eating compulsion disorder stands out. The detection of partial syndromes of such diseases is of high importance for prevention, as they currently occur more often than the disease itself 2 . Young women, because they are more vulnerable to pressures of society, culture and economics on esthetic standards, are the group at higher risk for eating disorders 3 . Eating disorders are from multiple causes, including genetic, environmental and behavioral factors. People with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa have, in common, an excessive concern with weight and diet, are dissatisfied and have a distorted perception of their body image, and typically are resistant to treatment. Lethality rate from anorexia nervosa ranges between 5% and 20%, which justifies the need for prevention.Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a self-imposed dietary restriction, in order to achieve a marked weight loss.
ABSTRACTThe sports environment can enhance social and cultural pressure towards a lean body. The close relationship between corporal image and performance makes the female athletes a group particularly vulnerable to eating disorders and weight-control practices. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the presence of behaviors suggestive of eating disorders, shifts in body perception, and menstrual dysfunctions in female athletes of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro School of Physical Education (EEFD-UFRJ). Twelve female athletes (20 ± 2 years), who had been training for 4.6 ± 2.3 years, a total of 13.8 ± 2.9 hours per week, were examined. The results of the athletes and of 32 young non-athletes (15 ± 1.4 years) were compared. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to evaluate weight-control and eating attitudes and behaviors. The Bulimic Investigatory Test Edimburgh (BITE) was used to identify suggestive behaviors of bulimia nervosa, and also to obtain data about cognitive and behav...