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Disordered eating and eating disorders in male elite athletes: A scoping review
This 2020 article is a review of eating disorders and disordered eating in male elite athletes. A systematic literature search was conducted, yielding a total of 80 relevant studies. These included interventional trials, reviews, as well as uncontrolled and controlled studies. Among these studies there were many differences in sports type, the competition levels of the athletes, and their ages. There were also discrepancies in the definition of disordered eating. The highest prevalence rate of disordered eating was 32.5%, which was higher than the general population. But the incidence rate was not higher in young and adolescent male elite athletes, compared with the control group. Competing in weight-sensitive sports was the most common factor associated with disordered eating. Across these studies male elite athletes tended to show less body dissatisfaction than control groups. However, there were no studies examining the prognosis of disordered eating in male elite athletes. Furthermore, the review did not find any reports containing an evidence-based approach for managing disordered eating in male high-level athletes. In conclusion, the existing research articles indicate a high prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders in male elite athletes, potentially caused by a multitude of possible factors. [NPID: eating disorders, disordered eating, review, athletes, sports, elite athletes]
Year: 2020
