Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2021
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nutrition
Committee Chair
Kelly Pritchett
Second Committee Member
Dana Ogan
Third Committee Member
Abigail Larson
Abstract
The prevalence of eating disorders in athletes is higher than in the general population. Various training styles, weight periodization, and presence of eating disorder (ED) may affect energy availability. This study investigated the relationship between lifetime prevalence of ED with training, body satisfaction, and weight-control methods among elite female endurance athletes. Female runners who participated in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon completed an online questionnaire examining training volume, weight-control methods, and self-reported current or past ED. Questions 1-19 were analyzed for this investigation. Participants were grouped according to responses on presence of ED. Thirty-two percent of participants reported previous ED diagnosis and 6% reported current ED. Runners who reported ED were significantly more likely to experience weight dissatisfaction and report energy restriction in the three months prior to the marathon. Consistent with previous literature, a substantial percentage of participants reported ED. This investigation suggests that ED may affect weight control methods and increase feelings of body dissatisfaction in competitive female runners.
Recommended Citation
Berg, Sophia Elizabeth, "The Relationship between Eating Disorders, Weight Control Methods, and Body Satisfaction in Elite Female Runners Competing at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials" (2021). All Master's Theses. 1512.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1512