Prevalence and Risk Factors for Eating Disorders in Adolescent Female Basketball Players

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Eating disorders (EDs) negatively impact adolescent athletes' health and performance.
• Prevalence of EDs in adolescent female team athletes remains understudied.
• This pilot study focused on female basketball players aged 10-18.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the presence of EDs in adolescent female basketball players.
• To identify sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sport-related factors associated with ED risk.
• To inform targeted prevention strategies for vulnerable athletes.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional pilot study of 36 female basketball players (mean age 13.3 years).
• Utilized the Spanish Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q) to assess ED risk.
• Collected data on body composition, sociodemographics, and sport-specific factors; analyzed associations using linear regression.

Main Results:

• Higher ED risk (Global Score) correlated with lower paternal education and socioeconomic status.
• Increased risk associated with older age, greater muscle mass, and national competition level.
• Pivot position players and those with a sport-related medical history showed higher mean ED risk scores.

Conclusions:

• While overall ED risk was low, specific factors identify vulnerable adolescent athletes.
• Findings suggest a need for longitudinal research to confirm associations.
• Early identification and targeted prevention strategies are crucial for at-risk athletes.