Differences between male and female college lean sport athletes, nonlean sport athletes, and nonathletes on behavioral and psychological indices of eating disorders

This study examined the relative frequency of behavioral and psychological indices of eating disorders in collegiate athletes and nonathletes. Participants were 230 male and 250 female nonathletes, and 187 male and 113 female varsity athletes. The male and female athletes were classified separately as either in a lean sport (i.e., where weight or appearance was central to success) or a nonlean sport and then compared with their nonathlete counterparts. After controlling for the effects of actual physical size, multivariate analyses revealed that (a) female athletes in lean sports were more weight preoccupied than nonlean sport female athletes and female nonathletes, (b) nonathletes, both male and female, expressed more dissatisfaction with their bodies than both of their respective athlete comparison groups, and (c) nonathletes, both male and female, felt less worthwhile and less effective in their lives than their respective gender's nonlean sport athletes. These findings are discussed in terms of sociocultural theories concerning the etiology of eating disorders. Implications for future research are provided.