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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/229033
Eating Disorder Symptoms in Elite Spanish Athletes: Prevalence and Sport-Specific Weight Pressures
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Abstract
We determined the prevalence of eating disorder (ED) symptoms among elite Spanish
athletes from a broad range of sports and levels of competition and examined
the associations between the presence of symptoms and perceived sport-specific
weight pressures. We surveyed 646 elite athletes (16.7 4.4 years; 51.08% females)
representing 33 sports from top-division teams and two elite athlete training centers
in Catalonia. Based on the results of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 responses, 5.1% of
athletes (7.6% of females and 2.5% of males) were at risk of EDs. The highest rates of
ED symptoms were observed in male endurance athletes and female esthetic athletes.
Competition level was not a risk factor. The only gender differences in the presence of ED
symptoms by competing level were observed in athletes competing at the national level.
Female athletes with ED symptoms scored higher on the two subscales of the Spanish
version of the Weight Pressures in Sport (WPS) tool: coach and sport-specific pressures
and pressures from teammates and due to uniform. Male athletes with ED symptoms
scored higher on the pressures due to uniform subscale. Finally, symptomatic female but
not male athletes competing at international and national levels also perceived greater
sport-specific weight pressures.
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TEIXIDOR BATLLE, Clara, VENTURA VALL-LLOVERA, Carles and ANDRÉS, Ana. Eating Disorder Symptoms in Elite Spanish Athletes: Prevalence and Sport-Specific Weight Pressures. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021. Vol. 11, num. 559832. ISSN 1664-1078. [consulted: 7 of June of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/229033