Disordered eating patterns in competitive female athletes

Abstract

In an effort to identify risk for disordered eating patterns in competitive female athletes, the present study compared a sample of NCAA Division I female athletes (n = 74) to a college female nonathlete control group (n = 52). Measures included the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) (Garner, Olmsted, & Polivy, 1983), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) (Garner & Garfinkel, 1979), and body mass. Findings indicated that none of these highly trained athletes had scores indicative of the constellation of disturbances in eating patterns and personality attributes seen in anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Rather, results suggested that the typical college female athlete falls into the normal range with regard to body mass and eating patterns. The competitive female cross-country runner actually may be at slightly less risk for body dissatisfaction than her nonathlete counterpart, whereas the gymnast may be at somewhat greater risk for weight preoccupation.