Prevention of eating disorders in female athletes

Abstract

Eating disorders are serious mental diseases that frequently appear in female athletes. They are abnormal eating behaviors that can be diagnosed only by strict criteria. Disordered eating, although also characterized as abnormal eating behavior, does not include all the criteria for diagnosing eating disorders and is therefore a way to recognize the problem in its early stages. It is important to identify factors to avoid clinical progression in this high-risk population. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss critical information for the prevention of eating disorders in female athletes. This review discusses the major correlates for the development of an eating disorder. We also discuss which athletes are possibly at highest risk for eating disorders, including those from lean sports and female adolescent athletes. There is an urgent need for the demystification of myths surrounding body weight and performance in sports. This review includes studies that tested different prevention programs’ effectiveness, and the majority showed positive results. Educational programs are the best method for primary prevention of eating disorders. For secondary prevention, early identification is essential and should be performed by preparticipation exams, the recognition of dietary markers, and the use of validated self-report questionnaires or clinical interviews. In addition, more randomized clinical trials are needed with athletes from multiple sports in order for the most reliable recommendations to be made and for some sporting regulations to be changed.

2016 update on eating disorders in athletes: A comprehensive narrative review with a focus on clinical assessment and management

“…Primary prevention efforts work to expand athlete knowledge about healthy eating, pathological eating behaviours and their consequences, and what to do if you or a teammate are thought to have an eating disorder 52 79. Athletes should be educated that dietary restriction and/or purging behaviour in pursuit of optimal weight and body composition will negatively impact sport performance and result in adverse health consequences.…”

Nature and efficacy of interventions addressing eating psychopathology in athletes: A systematic review of randomised and nonrandomised trials

“…At present, narrative reviews have been conducted to explore the efficacy of these programmes. For example, Coelho, Gomes, Ribeiro, and Soares () reported that interventions ( n = 6) aimed at preventing eating disorders in athletes were effective in changing female athletes' future intentions for eating and exercise behaviours immediately post‐intervention, with two studies reporting sustained effects at 9 months after the intervention. However, the incidence of eating disorder onset was not reduced (Coelho et al, ).…”

“…For example, Coelho, Gomes, Ribeiro, and Soares () reported that interventions ( n = 6) aimed at preventing eating disorders in athletes were effective in changing female athletes' future intentions for eating and exercise behaviours immediately post‐intervention, with two studies reporting sustained effects at 9 months after the intervention. However, the incidence of eating disorder onset was not reduced (Coelho et al, ). In another review of athlete eating disorder prevention programmes ( n = 11; Bar, Cassin, & Dionne, ), it was reported that most interventions demonstrated promising findings in preventing or reducing eating psychopathology in athletes, with four studies reporting sustained intervention effects [2–6 weeks ( n = 2); 9–36 months ( n = 2)].…”

Accelerating Progress in Eating Disorders Prevention: A Call for Policy Translation Research and Training

“…Over the past nearly 30 years, an increasing number of preventive interventions addressing eating disorders and poor body image have been developed, with over a hundred approaches published in the literature (Coelho, Gomes, Ribeiro, & Soares, 2014;Holt & Ricciardelli, 2008;Levine, McVey, Piran, & Ferguson, 2012;Newton & Ciliska, 2006;Rodgers & Paxton, 2014;Stice, Becker, & Yokum, 2013;Stice, Shaw, Becker, & Rohde, 2008;Stice, Shaw, & Marti, 2007;Yager, Diedrichs, Ricciardelli, & Halliwell, 2013;Yager & O'Dea, 2008). These interventions have included universal, selective, and targeted prevention strategies.…”

“…They have been designed for young children, adolescents, and adults in school and community settings and online. They have targeted self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, media literacy, healthful nutrition and physical activity, and other indicators (Coelho et al, 2014;Holt & Ricciardelli, 2008;Levine et al, 2012;Newton & Ciliska, 2006;Rodgers & Paxton, 2014;Stice et al, 2007Stice et al, , 2008Stice et al, , 2013Yager et al, 2013;Yager & O'Dea, 2008). Over 60 preventive interventions have been evaluated in controlled studies, the vast majority of which were efficacy trials (Stice et al, 2013).…”