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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
A mixed method approach to evaluating eating-related psychopathologies in collegiate student-athletes
Lauren E Stephens1, Edmond P Bowers1, Dorothy L Schmalz2
1Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
Objective:
To examine the presence of body image concerns, drive for muscularity, and disordered eating behaviors in collegiate student-athletes.
Participants:
One hundred and one NCAA Division I student-athletes participated in Phase I; 15 of these also participated in Phase II.
Methods:
This study employed a mixed method, sequential explanatory design. Participants first completed survey measures assessing body image concern, drive for muscularity, and eating behaviors. These results influenced open-ended, semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analyzed.
Results:
Body image and disordered eating behaviors were of greater concern than drive for muscularity. Student-athletes reported engaging in eating behaviors as opposed to not eating, yet these eating behaviors trended toward disordered behaviors such as obsessive "healthy eating" or orthorexia.
Conclusions:
This study took a novel methodological approach to examining student-athlete body image and eating behaviors. Results emphasize the need for further support and education for student-athletes around body image and eating behaviors.
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