Association between Body Shape, Body Mass Index and Eating disorders among athletics' and non athletics' female students

Salem, Ghada M; Bayomi, Marwa

doi:10.21608/efmj.2022.87206.1080

Association between Body Shape, Body Mass Index and Eating disorders among athletics' and non athletics' female students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ghada m Salem ¹
marwa bayomi ²

¹ public heallth departement , faculty of medicine , Zagaazig university

² Public health department,faculty of medicine,zagazig university

10.21608/efmj.2022.87206.1080

Abstract

Background: Owing to high prevalence and potentially harmful physical and psychosocial consequences, eating disorders are considered significant harms to adolescents in public health. Many factors increase the risk for developing of eating disorders such as social pressure, cultural factors, economic status and the effect of weight loss of media programs Objectives: The study aimed to detect if there is a difference between athletics female students and non-athletics' female students in perceiving body shape, body mass index and eating disorders. Methods :This was a comparative cross-sectional study between athletics' female students from Girls Physical Education College and non-athletics female students from other college, using self-administrated questionnaire consisted of a demographic section, an Arabic version of the Eating Attitude Test 26, The Body Shape Questionnaire and The Body Figure Rating Scale.
Result: 118 female students participated in the study and completed the Questionnaires. Athletics' female students were high in Eating Attitude Test 26 , show moderate to severe Body Shape Dissatisfaction. There was statistically significant difference (p <0.05) between athletics' and non-athletics' female students as regards actual body size, and perceived body image. Conclusion: The results of the study conclude that athletics' female students were more prone to risk of eating disorders than non athletics' female students with unsatisfactory to their body image. It is advised that athletic departments check for eating disorders with purpose of early detection. Further studies are needed to assess relationship between risk of development eating disorders and Athletics' female students to overcome the problem in early stage.

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