Comparison Of EDE-Q Scores Between Female Physique Focused And Non-Physique Focused Division I & II Collegiate Athletes

Physique-focused (PF) sports often emphasize a lean physique as beneficial for performance, leading athletes to adopt restrictive eating behaviors to achieve or maintain low body weight. In contrast, non-physique-focused (NPF) sports generally do not prioritize body weight for competitive advantage. Despite the potential risks for disordered eating in PF sports, research comparing disordered eating behaviors between PF and NPF athletes remains limited. PURPOSE: This study aims to compare differences in eating behaviors and attitudes among Division I & II female athletes in PF and NPF sports using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) 6.0. METHODS: A total of 30 female collegiate athletes from Division I & II programs in the DFW metroplex completed the EDE-Q, which included measures of eating restraint, eating concern, weight concern, and shape concern. Members of the research team classified athletes into PF sports (e.g., cross-country, diving, swimming, track, wrestling) and NPF sports (e.g., shot put, soccer, softball, volleyball). Independent t-tests were used to examine differences between groups in EDE-Q categories. RESULTS: 17 PF (age 19.9 ± 1.6 y) and 13 NPF (age 20.3 ± 1.4 y) athletes participated in this study. EDE-Q scores regarding eating restraint were elevated in PF (1.1 ± 1.4) than NPF (0.4 ± 0.6, p = 0.05). The score for eating concerns was not different between PF (0.7 ± 1.1) than NPF (0.4 ± 0.6, p = 0.17), but weight concerns were higher in PF (1.4 ± 1.5) compared to NPF (0.6 ± 0.8, p = 0.049). Concerns regarding body shape were similar between the two groups (p = 0.10). Overall, the EDE-Q Global Score was higher in PF athletes (1.2 ± 1.4) than NPF athletes (0.6 ± 0.6), but this difference was not significant (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that female athletes in PF sports show higher levels of eating restraint and weight concerns than those in NPF sports, indicating a greater vulnerability to disordered eating. Although overall EDE-Q scores were not significantly different, the findings highlight the need for increased monitoring of eating behaviors in both PF and NPF sports. Future research should explore the causes of these differences and evaluate targeted interventions to support healthy eating attitudes across sport types.