Determination of Eating Disorders Level and Risk Factors of University Students Studying Sports Education

Abstract

Eating disorder has become an increasingly common problem among athletes. This study aims to determine eating disorder levels and risk factors of students studying sports education. This study was carried out on 1773 university students, 1084 (61.1%) of whom are female and 689 (38.9%) male, in the field of sports education in different provinces in Turkey. The information of the participants was collected with an individual information form and an Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). All EDEQ sub-dimension scores and the total score were found to be statistically significantly higher in males than in females (p <0.05) except for the restraint score. It was found that, as BMI (Body Mass Index) value increased, there was a statistically significant increase in all sub-dimensions of EDEQ and EDEQ total score (p<0.05). Eating concern and shape concern scores were found to be statistically higher in those who did not perform physical activities than those who performed physical activities (respectively; p=0.030, p=0.004). An increase in the EDE-Q score indicates an increased risk of eating disorders. It can be said that being a male, having a high BMI, and engaging in strength/power sports increase the risk of eating disorders in individuals who receive sports education.