Body satisfaction and disordered eating among male collegiate athletes: From point-prevalence to prediction

• Published in: Eating behaviors : an international journal 2023-08, Vol.50, p.101783-101783, Article 101783
• Main Authors: Petrie, Trent A., Moore, E. Whitney
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: And transitions; Body dissatisfaction; body image; body size; Eating disorders; females; males; pandemic; prediction; sports; Student athletes; variance
• ISSN: 1471-0153; 1873-7358
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101783

Body satisfaction (BS) predicts lower levels of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors (ED/DE) among female athletes, though recent research suggests similar effects for male athletes. However, research on male athletes' BS and ED/DE is limited, particularly in relation to times of transition, such as occurred in the months immediately following COVID-19 being recognized as a global pandemic. In this study, we surveyed 1975 male collegiate athletes in April/May 2020 to assess their body satisfaction and ED/DE symptomatology to determine prevalence and prediction between the two. First, we determined athletes' ED classification: 18.5 % (clinical) and 4.7 % (subclinical). Second, although 60 % to 70 % of the athletes reported satisfaction across five body dimensions, they were significantly more satisfied with their body muscularity and least with their leanness and thinness. Third, through hierarchical regression, athletes' body satisfaction significantly explained their ED/DE symptomatology, explaining 34 % of the variance. Of the five BS dimensions, satisfaction with body size/shape (β = −0.19), current weight (β = −0.22), and thinness (β = −0.25) were associated significantly with lower DE. Our results add to the limited research that has demonstrated that during times of transition, such as when athletes retire from sport or experience a global health pandemic, female and male athletes' report more body image concerns and DE symptoms. Further, our results indicate that satisfaction is perceived as multidimensional by male athletes, and that specific dimensions (e.g., weight, thinness) are more strongly associated with disturbances in eating. •Early COVID-19, male athletes had a high prevalence of eating disorders•Athletes most satisfied with their body’s muscularity; least satisfied with thinness•Body satisfaction explained 34% of the eating disorder/disordered eating variance•Satisfaction with body size, current weight, thinness predicted disordered eating•Limitations: cross-sectional data, convenience sample, ED subgroups not assessed