Jill Holm-Denoma of the University of Denver, and her colleagues asked 274 female undergraduates from a large
southeastern university to complete the Eating Disorders Inventory, a self-report
measuring eating related behaviors and attitudes; the Rosenberg Self
Esteem Scale, a measurement tool used to evaluate self-esteem; and the
Physical Activity and Sport Anxiety Scale, a questionnaire used to
assess social fear and avoidance of physical activity or athletic
situations.
The researchers were interested in whether differences in eating
disorder symptoms exist between women who are varsity athletes
(exercised an average of two hours per day), club athletes (practiced
their sport an average of four times per week), independent exercisers
(people who exercised on their own at least three times per week) and
non-exercisers (people who exercise 0-2 times per week on average).
The findings of the study indicated that women who participated in competitive sports had higher levels of eating disorder symptoms and those who had higher levels of sports performance anxiety had greater levels of bulimia symptoms and drive for thinness.
This study has long-term significance in that the
data suggest that coaches and athletic departments of competitive
athletes should be on the look-out for sports-related anxiety as these
athletes may be at higher risk for eating disorder symptoms in
comparison to women who are less anxious about their performance and
those who are not involved in competitive athletics.
"As women's participation in athletics increases, so too does the need for awareness of the link between eating disorders and sports participation among women. Coaches and athletic departments should consider consulting with clinicians to implement prevention and monitoring programs for the female athletes and independent exercisers at their universities," said Jill Holm-Denoma of the University of Denver, lead author of the study.
Source: EurekAlert (Press Release)
References
Holm-Denoma, J.M. Scaringi, V., Gordon, K.H., Van Orden, K.A., Joiner, T.A. (2008).
Eating Disorder Symptoms among Undergraduate Varsity Athletes, Club Athletes, Independent Exercisers, and Nonexercisers. International Journal of Eating Disorders. DOI: 10.1002/eat.20560
