Eating disorders risk assessment on semi-professional male team sports players

Introduction: eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by an extreme concern about body weight and body image. Male team sports players are usually excluded from the population at risk of developing EDs. This exemption can be questioned based on previous studies identifying a great body concern in male team athletes along with a increase of the sport-thinness relation. Objective: to detect EDs symptoms and to assess risk factors of its development in male team sports players. Methodology: a descriptive-analytical study was carried out with 49 male adult semiprofessional team sports players (football, basketball and rugby) between 18 and 35 years old. All subjects authorized their participation through informed consent. Data was collected through a general assessment sheet along with four validates tools: the Eating Habits Questionnaire for Athletes (CHAD), the Test of Food Attitudes (EAT-40), the Inventory of Eating (EDI-2), and the Questionnaire on the Body Shape (BSQ). All data were analyzed with a Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Student's t, ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Results: it was observed that 14% of the subjects presented symptoms of EDs. Positive correlation was observed between score of the questionnaires, weekly training load and body mass index. Also football players score and rugbiers score were higher than basketball players score. Conclusion: male sports team players could also be a group of risk for EDs development. EDs risk greats when BMI and weekly training load high.