Prevalence of Eating Disorder Risk and Body Image Distortion Among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Varsity Equestrian Athletes

Abstract

Context: Participation in appearance-based sports, particularly at the collegiate level, may place additional pressures on female athletes to be thin, which may increase the likelihood of their resorting to drastic weight control measures, such as disordered eating behaviors.Objectives: (1) To estimate the prevalence and sources of eating disorder risk classification by academic status (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) and riding discipline (English and Western), (2) to examine riding style and academic status variations in body mass index (BMI) and silhouette type, and (3) to examine these variations across eating disorder risk classification type (eg, body image disturbances).Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Seven universities throughout the United States. Patients or Other Participants:A total of 138 participants volunteered (mean age = 19.88 ± 1.29 years). They represented 2 equestrian disciplines: English riding (n = 91) and Western riding (n = 47).Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants self-reported menstrual cycle history, height, and weight. We screened for eating disorder risk behaviors with the Eating Attitudes Test and for body disturbance with sex-specific BMI silhouettes.Results: Based on the Eating Attitudes Test, estimated eating disorder prevalence was 42.0% in the total sample, 38.5% among English riders, and 48.9% among Western riders. No BMI or silhouette differences were found across academic status or discipline in disordered eating risk. Overall, participants perceived their body images as significantly larger than their actual physical sizes (self-reported BMI) and wanted to be significantly smaller in both normal clothing and competitive uniforms.Conclusions: Disordered eating risk prevalence among equestrian athletes was similar to that reported in other aesthetic sports and lower than that in nonaesthetic sports. Athletic trainers working with these athletes should be sensitive to these risks and refer athletes as needed to clinicians knowledgeable about disordered eating. Professionals working with this population should avoid making negative comments about physical size and appearance.Key Words: disordered eating behaviors, riding disciplines, aesthetic sports Key Points• Female collegiate equestrian athletes displayed a disordered eating risk prevalence that was similar to that seen in female athletes in other appearance-based sports and greater than that seen in female athletes in non-appearance-based sports.• Female collegiate equestrian athletes should be screened for eating disorder risk during the preparticipation physical examination.• Education programs on weight management, body image, and disordered eating may be helpful to athletes in aesthetic sports such as equestrian.

Disordered eating behaviors and body image in male athletes

“…Body image dissatisfaction has been identified as a relevant factor in the development of disordered eating behaviors in athletes of both sexes. 4,5,26,27 Our results indicate that 14.7% of athletes are dissatisfied with their body image, which is lower than the prevalence of athletes with disordered eating behaviors (27.6%). Pritchard et al found a higher prevalence of disordered eating behaviors in athletes compared with non-athletes, but no difference in body image dissatisfaction between both groups.…”

Susceptibility to Eating Disorders Among Collegiate Female Student–Athletes

“…Interestingly, results are mixed as to which female athletes are more susceptible to eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors and whether athletes are at a higher risk compared with females in the general population. 7,[10][11][12][13] Estimates of these behaviors may differ widely because of factors such as sample size, competition level of athletes, type of sport, and social and cultural norms that may vary geographically. Therefore, the prevalence of eating disorders among various groups remains unclear.…”

Persepsi tubuh negatif meningkatkan kejadian eating disorders pada remaja usia 15-19 tahun

“…Sebagian besar memiliki persepsi tubuh negatif lalu perlahan menunjukkan gejala depresi, hal ini sangat berisiko untuk berkembang menjadi eating disorders. (16)(17)(18) Namun, berbeda dengan penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Kurniawan et al (11) di Bogor, bahwa tidak semua subjek yang memiliki persepsi tubuh negatif merasa cemas akan berat badan dan bentuk tubuh yang dimiliki saat ini, dan tidak memiliki dorongan atau keinginan untuk menurunkan berat badan sehingga tidak berisiko untuk berkembang menjadi eating disorders. (11) Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menganalisis hubungan antara persepsi tubuh dengan eating disorders pada remaja usia 15-19 tahun.…”

“…Sebagian besar status gizi responden adalah normal. Hal ini sesuai dengan penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Torres-McGeehee et al (16) dan Watkins et al (21) bahwa pada sebagian besar subjek penelitian didapatkan kategori status gizi normal pada remaja dibanding dengan Eating disorders kategori status gizi yang lain. Pada penelitian ini didapatkan adanya hubungan yang bermakna antara status gizi dan persepsi tubuh.…”