Gender Differences in Eating Disorder Risk among NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track Student-Athletes.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Eating disorders are a significant concern in collegiate athletes.
• Distance runners may face unique pressures contributing to disordered eating.
• Gender-based risk factors for eating disorders in athletes require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gender differences in eating disorder risk among NCAA Division I cross country and track distance running student-athletes.
• To identify the prevalence of eating disorder risk in male and female distance runners.
• To inform targeted screening and prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• The Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care (ESP) was administered to 638 male and female NCAA Division I distance runners (800m+).
• ESP scores were used to assess the risk of developing eating disorders.
• Data were analyzed to compare screening positive rates between genders at different ESP score cutoffs.

Main Results:

• Females screened positive for eating disorder risk at significantly higher rates than males at both ESP cutoffs (2 and 3).
• At a cutoff of 2, 45.95% of females and 13.66% of males screened positive.
• At a stricter cutoff of 3, 21.69% of females and 4.64% of males screened positive.

Conclusions:

• Both male and female distance runners are at risk for eating disorders, with females exhibiting higher risk.
• The findings underscore the importance of implementing eating disorder risk screening protocols for collegiate distance runners.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for mitigating the impact of eating disorders in this athletic population.