Psychological effects of rapid weight loss and attitudes towards eating among professional jockeys

Abstract

We examined the psychological effects of rapid weight loss among a sample of 41 professional jockeys (mean age 30.9 years, s = 7.0). Participants completed the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) to establish the relationships between rapid weight loss, mood, and attitudes towards eating. These instruments were administered on three occasions: at the jockeys' minimal weight (achieved through rapid weight loss), their optimal riding weight (when they were not excessively restricting their weight and felt healthy), and their relaxed weight (when there were no forthcoming light rides or no rides at all). It was hypothesized that when riding at minimal weight, jockeys would record a more negative mood profile compared with scores recorded at optimal or relaxed weights. The same trend was expected for eating attitudes. These hypotheses were supported as jockeys reported significantly more negative mood profiles and eating attitudes at minimal weight. The EAT-26 scores indicated the presence of disordered attitudes towards eating at this weight. These results suggest that jockeys' endeavours to reach the minimum weight limit stipulated by governing bodies are likely to jeopardize their psychological well-being. Dialogue surrounding the appropriateness of current weight regulations is therefore encouraged.

The impact of making-weight on cognitive performance in apprentice jockeys

“…A strong reliance on rapid weight loss for competition is evident amongst jockeys, primarily achieved through dehydration by sweating in saunas or exercising in sweat suits, accompanied by severely restricted fluid and food intake (Dolan et al, 2011;Labadarios et al, 1993;Leydon & Wall, 2002;Moore, Timperio, Crawford, Burns, & Cameron-Smith, 2002). These weight-making practices appear to result in jockeys living and competing in a dehydrated and energy deficient state (Dolan et al, 2011;Warrington et al, 2009), which have been associated with many adverse implications for health (Dolan, Crabtree, et al, 2012;Greene, Naughton, Jander, & Cullen, 2013;Waldron-Lynch et al, 2010;Warrington et al, 2009), psychological status (Caulfield & Karageorghis, 2008) and physical performance (Dolan, Cullen, McGoldrick, & Warrington, 2013;Wilson, Hawken, et al, 2014) in jockeys.…”

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

“…Whereas English and Western riders may experience similar pressures to maintain certain weights for appearance on the horse, jockeys may have to maintain their weights to enhance their performance on the horse. Previous authors 8,32 have reported eating disorder prevalence in jockeys as ranging from 15% to 20%.…”

“…More specifically, aesthetic sport athletes and those in weight-restricted sports such as rowing and horse racing (eg, jockeys) 7,8 have been the focus of study on the prevalence of eating disorder risk, [9][10][11][12][13] which ranges from 33% to 50% in aesthetic sports. 2,12 However, no current investigators have estimated prevalence among female equestrian athletes.…”

Mood States are Not Associated with BMI in Mentally Healthy Adults

“…Patients usually respond to a 5-point Likert scale on the basis of how they had been feeling the previous week. The BRUMS has been used in studies investigating among others mood in sport and exercise (Lane et al, 2005;Lowther & Lane, 2002), weight loss (Caulfield & Karageorghis, 2008), the effect of hormones on mood (Coutts et al, 2006), and sleep profiles (Pedlar et al, 2006).…”