Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Assessment of relationship between eating attitudes and body image in adolescent athletes

Joint Event on 17^th World Congress on Nutrition and Food Chemistry & 14^th Euro Obesity and Endocrinology Congress

September 13-15, 2018 | London, UK

Gonca Yildirim and Aylin Buyukkaragoz

Atilim University, Turkey
Acibadem University, Turkey

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nutr Food Sci

Abstract :

Eating disorders are pathological disorders in eating behaviors involving distorted perceptions of body shape and weight. One of the strongest predictors of eating disorder is dissatisfaction of the body image. The main purpose of this study is to determine the occurrence of eating disorders in adolescent athletes and whether adolescent athletes are at risk for body image concerns or not. The study included adolescent atheletes (n:219) and non-athletes (n:219). Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) was used to assess body image Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) were used to assess eating behavior. For SPAS, non-athletes had higher scores than athletes, sedentery females had higher scores than female athletes and sedantary males and these findings were statistically significant (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in SPAS scores between sedentary males and male athletes (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in EAT-26 and EDE-Q scores between atheletes and nonathletes (p>0.05). However, sedentary females had higher EAT-26 and EDE-Q scores than sedentary males (p<0.05). There was positive but weak correlation between EAT-26 and SPAS scores and there was positive and moderate correlation between EDE-Q and SPAS scores in athletes group. Additionally, positive and weak correlation between EAT-26 and SPAS scores and strong correlation between EDE-Q and SPAS scores was observed in non-athlethes group. Results show that participation in sports may have beneficial effects on body image, which may also protect adolescents from eating disorders. Sedantary females seem to be the most risky group for eating disorder and body image.

Biography :

Gonca Yildirim is pursuing her Post-graduate education at Acibadem University and completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Başkent University. She works at Atilim University as a Research Asistant. And also International Medical Center Hosiptal- Dietitian Başkent University Nutrition and Dietetic student colloquium. She is participant of 9-10 May 2015 ANKARA and also GülhaneHospital Symposium on Current Nutritional Approaches in Diseases 13-14 October 2017.

E-mail: gncyildirim@gmail.com