Abstract
Disordered eating in adolescents who participate in sports is an issue of great concern. However, very few studies have examined the prevalence of sport-related determinants of disturbed eating attitudes and behaviours (DEABs) in sport-involved adolescents. The present study aims to assess body image and DEABs in the sample of adolescents involved in a sport of different characteristics (competitive sport, leisure sport; weight-sensitive and less-weight-sensitive sport) and to compare the results with those of the controls. A total sample of 732 adolescents (437 (59.4%) were female) participated in the study. The participants ranged in age from 16 to 19 years (mean = 17.2, SD = 0.6). Study participants completed a questionnaire assessing sports characteristics, body image, disordered eating, and health-compromising eating behaviours. Analysis of covariance was used to test the differences of major study variables between controls and weight-sensitive and less-weight-sensitive leisure and competitive sports groups. There was no significant difference observed in DEABs between the sports groups. Competitive athletes reported more satisfaction with body image than controls. The girls participating in weight-sensitive leisure sports reported higher overweight preoccupation and greater DEABs compared to those participating in less-weight-sensitive leisure sports. Boys participating in weight-sensitive leisure sports reported a greater drive for muscularity-related behaviour compared to those participating in less-weight-sensitive leisure sports. There was no observed interaction between gender and weight sensitivity in the competitive sports group. Adolescents involved in a competitive sport demonstrated greater body image satisfaction and did not seem to present a greater risk for DEABs than controls. Special prevention attempts for lowering body image concerns and DEABs should be addressed for adolescents participating in a weight-sensitive leisure sports.
Highlights
We expected that adolescents participating in sports would demonstrate greater body image and lower disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors (DEABs) compared to sex-matched controls
Our results indicate that being a participant in competitive sports over leisure exercising in weightsensitive sports may be somewhat protective for body image concerns, which are related to normal physical changes during adolescence
Adolescents involved in sports demonstrated greater body image satisfaction and did not seem to present a greater risk for DEABs than those who were not involved in sports activities
Summary
Body image concerns and body dissatisfaction are highly prevalent in adolescents worldwide [1,2,3,4,5].Studies have demonstrated that adolescents’ body image concerns are associated with disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors (DEABs) that might be the precursor of clinical eating disorders [6,7].DEABs are abnormal eating-related attitudes (e.g., fear to gain weight, a drive for thinness or a drive for muscularity) and behaviours (e.g., restricted dietary intake, binge eating, self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic use, fasting, skipping meals, avoiding a particular group of food, etc.) [8,9].Those behaviors are damaging and can affect nearly every system of a growing adolescent’s body [6,10], and be predictors for the development of obesity later in life [11,12].Nutrients 2019, 11, 3061; doi:10.3390/nu11123061 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsPhysical activity and participation in sports are highly promoted for adolescents because of the numerous benefits for health [13]. DEABs are abnormal eating-related attitudes (e.g., fear to gain weight, a drive for thinness or a drive for muscularity) and behaviours (e.g., restricted dietary intake, binge eating, self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic use, fasting, skipping meals, avoiding a particular group of food, etc.) [8,9]. Those behaviors are damaging and can affect nearly every system of a growing adolescent’s body [6,10], and be predictors for the development of obesity later in life [11,12]. Some studies have demonstrated that participation in sports and exercise is associated with a greater body image in adolescents [14,15,16,17]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
