An eating disorder is characterized by abnormal eating habits. Due to unique pressures in the sport environment, there is an increased risk for disordered eating behaviors of male athletes. Out of the 203 students from three different colleges, almost 20% reported a level of symptoms to be considered symtomatic. None of them were classified with a clinical eating disorder. In Sundgot-Borgens study, she reported that 1.3% of athletes met criteria for anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that involves one to starve themselves. The percentage of those who struggled with bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder that involves eating a great deal of food and then throwing it up, is 8%.
Everyone is exposed to societal expectations. This includes one’s body, dieting, appearance, and attractiveness. This increased prevalence is most likely due to sociocultural factors. Are female athletes more likely to develop an eating disorder? Female athletes have a higher rate of disordered eating behaviors than females that are not athletes. Female athletes are always being viewed. They are viewed by coaches, judges, and teammates. As a result, they may focus more on their own body monitoring, which would help them notice more physical flaws over time and be less …show more content…
Athletes in general, are at higher risk of developing eating disorders rather than nonathletes. Athletes have coaches, teammates, and judges pressuring them extremely to meet weight requirements. If they do not, they have to risk the chance of not being able to perform in their sport that they train for. The sociocultural is also a cause. Females and males compare themselves constantly to others which can take a toll on their mindset. With the pressure from coaches and sociocultural, athletes can find themselves slipping into bad habits. College female and male athletes have a greater chance of developing an eating