DENVER, Jul 28, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Female athletes and exercisers tend to
exhibit eating disorder symptoms more often than those who don't exercise as
regularly, U.S. researchers said.
The study by researchers at the University of Denver is one of the first to
document that women participating in athletic competition and have sports
anxiety likely will experience eating disorder symptoms, the International
Journal of Eating Disorders, which published the research, said Monday in a news
release.
The study of 274 female college undergraduates examined whether differences in
eating disorder symptoms exist between women depending on the level of their
athletic-exercise activities. The participants also completed several
questionnaires about attitudes and behaviors related to eating disorders, self
esteem and sports anxiety.
Data suggested coaches and athletic departments of competitive athletes should
be watching for sports-related anxiety because these athletes may be at higher
risk for eating disorder symptoms than women who are less anxious about their
performance and those not involved in competitive athletics, the researchers
said.
"As women's participation in athletics increases, so too does the need for
awareness of the link between eating disorders and sports participation among
women.," said Jill Holm-Denoma of the University of Denver, lead author of the
study.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International