Higher Prevalence of Eating Disorders among Adolescent Elite Athletes than Controls

Marianne Martinsen · Jorunn Kaiander Sundgot-Borgen

341 citations0/0 files storedMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

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Eating Disorders and Behaviors Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior Psychological Treatments and Assessments

Abstract

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) among female and male adolescent elite athletes and nonathletic controls. METHODS: This was a two-phase study, including a self-report questionnaire (part I) followed by clinical interviews (part II). The total population of first-year students at 16 Norwegian Elite Sport High Schools (n = 677) and two randomly selected high schools (controls, n = 421) were invited to participate. The questionnaire was completed by 611 (90%) athletes and 355 (84%) controls. The subjects reporting symptoms associated with ED were classified as "at risk" for ED. In part II, all "at-risk" athletes (n = 153), a random sample of not "at risk" (n = 153), and a random sample of 50% of the controls classified as "at risk" (n = 91) and not "at risk" (n = 88) were invited to the clinical interview to screen for ED (i.e., meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or ED not otherwise specified). RESULTS: In part I, more controls than athletes were classified as "at risk" for ED (50.7% vs 25.0%, P < 0.001). In part II, the prevalence of ED among the total population of athletes and controls was estimated to be 7.0% versus 2.3%, with a difference of 4.7% (95% confidence interval, 3.4-6.0; P = 0.001), with the ED prevalence being higher for female than male athletes (14.0% vs 3.2%, P < 0.001) and female and male controls (5.1% vs 0%, P < 0.001). No difference in the prevalence of ED was detected between the females in weight-sensitive and less weight-sensitive sport groups (19.7% vs 11.9%, P = 0.136). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ED is higher in adolescent elite athletes than controls and higher in female than male athletes. Clinical interview is needed to determine accurate prevalence of ED.

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References

2013Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 2003Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)2012Epidemiology of Eating Disorders: Incidence, Prevalence and Mortality Rates 2007The Female Athlete Triad 2008Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders 2003Measuring the mental health status of the Norwegian population: A comparison of the instruments SCL-25, SCL-10, SCL-5 and MHI-5 (SF-36)2004Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Elite Athletes Is Higher Than in the General Population 2007Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire

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2014The Sporting Body: Body Image and Eating Disorder Symptomatology Among Female Athletes from Leanness Focused and Nonleanness Focused Sports 2014The Development of the Brief Eating Disorder in Athletes Questionnaire 2016Eating disorder pathology in elite adolescent athletes 2013Female Athlete Triad and Its Components: Toward Improved Screening and Management 2013Preventing Eating Disorders among Young Elite Athletes

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