Comparison of disordered eating between young athletes and non-athletes

ABSTRACT Objective To compare factors of disordered eating to non-athlete and athlete groups aesthetic, endurance or weight class division sports. Methods One hundred and eighty-seven athletes and 200 subjects who comprised the non-athlete group were participated. We used the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) to evaluate the disordered eating. We conducted multivariate analysis of covariance to compare the EAT-26 subscales according to group and sex. Results The results showed that all the scores of the EAT-26 subscales were higher in females compared to males, regardless of group (p < 0,05). Furthermore, the EAT-26 subscales were similar between athletes and non-athletes in females and in males, showed up high scores for the Diet and Self-control Oral subscales in the non-athlete group when compared to athletes (p < 0,05). Conclusion The athletes did not show higher scores on the EAT-26 subscales when compared to the non-athlete group.