Eating Attitudes and Characteristics of Physical Activity Practitioners and Athletes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Disordered eating among athletes and physical activity practitioners is a growing concern that can negatively impact health and performance. Understanding the prevalence and predictors of disordered eating in these populations is essential for developing effective interventions. Objective: To investigate disordered eating tendencies among athletes and physical activity practitioners in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Participants from five athletic clubs and six fitness centers were surveyed. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire that included the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ), and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Anthropometric data were also collected. The study comprised a sample of 263 individuals, who were divided into two groups: athletes (n = 121) and physical activity practitioners (n = 142). Results: The average age of the participants was 26.41 years with a standard deviation of 8.1 years. Females comprised nearly two thirds of the sample, representing 60.8% of the participants. Physical activity practitioners exhibited higher disordered eating scores compared to athletes. The total EAT-26 scores were significantly higher in practitioners (15.63 ± 4.12) than in athletes (13.21 ± 3.89; p < 0.001). Subscale scores for Dieting (8.95 ± 2.73 vs. 7.49 ± 2.58; p = 0.001) and Bulimia (3.32 ± 1.15 vs. 2.20 ± 1.03; p < 0.001) were also higher in practitioners. BMI was a significant predictor of higher total EAT-26 scores and its subsets, indicating a greater risk of disordered eating behaviors in individuals with higher BMI. Participants with lower levels of sports nutritional knowledge and those engaging in low-intensity physical activities were more likely to exhibit disordered eating tendencies. Conclusions: The findings highlight that physical activity practitioners are at a higher risk of disordered eating compared to athletes. Addressing BMI and improving nutritional knowledge are key strategies for preventing and managing disordered eating behaviors in physically active populations. Interventions targeting these areas may enhance health outcomes and performance among athletes and practitioners.