Environmental Factors Influencing the Development of Disordered Eating in Female Collegiate Athletes

Environmental Factors Influencing the Development of Disordered Eating in Female Collegiate Athletes Pepper, A, Moody, VJ: University of Montana Context: Disordered eating is a disturbance in a patient's typical eating pattern that spans a wide range of behaviors typically used to lose or maintain an unhealthy weight. Disordered eating behaviors increase the risk of developing eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. Disordered eating prevalence has been reported as 20% higher in female collegiate athletes when compared to their male counterparts; however, few differences have been reported in prevalence when comparing female college students and female collegiate athletes. Serious complications can arise from disordered eating, such as dehydration, hypotension, dental erosion, and electrolyte abnormalities which can lead to a significant decline in athletic performance. In some cases, disordered eating can lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the factors that influence the development of disordered eating behaviors to mitigate health risks. Methods: We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library from inception until December 2024. Studies that examined disordered eating, collegiate female athletes, and risk factor assessments were used. Articles were written in English, published after 2014, and had full-text availability. The initial search yielded 1890 articles. 1884 articles that did not specifically involve disordered eating in collegiate females were excluded from further inspection. In total 6 articles were included for review. Results: Several factors were identified in this review indicating that both external (e.g. family, friends, and media) and internal pressures (e.g. body dissatisfaction, perceived stress, and depression) are key predictors in the eating and exercise behaviors of athletes and non-athletes alike. Athletes in lean sports scored higher in categories related to body shape and were less satisfied with their current weight when compared to athletes in non-lean sports. Conclusions: This systematic review highlighted the risk factors that potentially contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviors in collegiate female athletes. Implementation of screening tools in the pre-participation physical exam, in addition to athlete education, focused on warning signs of disordered eating and nutritional recommendations may be critical strategies in preventing disordered eating behaviors. Word Count: 328