Perception of Disordered Eating Among Different NCAA Divisions of Collegiate Athletes

Purpose: Disordered eating is an unhealthy pattern of eating that may develop into an eating disorder. It can include the use of excessive exercise, caloric restriction, binging, or inappropriate use of diet pills/laxatives. It commonly affects collegiate athletes due to the pressure they face to continue to perform well, maintain a specific body composition or appearance, and be influenced by their teammates' eating and exercise habits. This study was conducted to gain qualitative knowledge on how college athletes perceived and experienced disordered eating risk factors during their participation in an NCAA sport. This information can be used to further understand risk factors of disordered eating as well as aid in the early recognition and treatment of disordered eating in collegiate athletes. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed via Qualtrics to 288 collegiate athletes who participated in an NCAA program between 2018 and 2023. They were recruited via social media posts, recruitment pleas, and recruitment flyers. The questions asked targeted the areas of exercise and eating habits, nutritional healthcare access, past medical history, and selfperception. Results: Collegiate athletes reported that they did feel that the pressures of their sport participation affected and changed their eating habits regardless of NCAA division level. The collegiate athletes also reported that participation in sport generally pressured athletes to maintain a specific body type. The collegiate athletes reported equal positive and negative responses to the perception that their teammates' eating and exercise behaviors affected their own. Conclusion: Collegiate athletes perceive themselves to be affected by risk factors of disordered eating. As expected, they also believe that they are susceptible to influence from their teammates in relation to these risk factors.