Collegiate athletic trainers' knowledge and perceptions of disordered eating behaviors in athletes

To assess athletic trainers' perceptions and knowledge regarding disordered eating behaviors and to estimate their confidence in response to a test of knowledge, a cross-sectional mail survey was distributed to a national random sample of 500 athletic trainers from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 408 collegiate certified athletic trainers responded (rate of 81.6%). A 30-item questionnaire assessed perceptions of disordered eating behaviors within 5 domains. Opinions regarding the prevalence of disordered eating, athletic injury and nutritional status, and their role in recognizing disordered eating were assessed. Most respondents reported perceiving disordered eating to be a significant problem. Also, athletic trainers needed knowledge in all domains of disordered eating.