About this Research Topic
Eating Disorders (ED), as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5), include Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) as the primary diagnoses. ED are serious psychiatric illnesses that affect functioning (physical and psychological) and quality of life, constituting a true public health problem. ED are known to be a major cause of mortality, mainly due to cardiac causes and suicide in those with AN.
Overall, the data reflects that there is a higher prevalence of ED in athletes (0-19% in male athletes, and 6-45% in female athletes) compared to the general population (1% for AN, 3-5% for BN, and 13% for all ED globally). Athletes who have ED have specific consequences for their health and athletic performance, including endocrine-metabolic alterations (e.g., nutritional deficiencies, decreased bone mass, menstrual disturbances/hypogonadism) from Low Energy Availability (LEA). This negatively impacts muscle power, resistance, and in turn, performance. Sports in which there is pressure to lose and/or maintain weight for a perceived competitive advantage, and/or increased aesthetics, are those at highest risk (e.g., endurance runners, wrestling, gymnastics, ballet). As such, prevention/early intervention is important to assist athletes with maintaining optimal health and performance levels. Given this, we encourage authors to submit Original Research and Systematic Reviews with the below themes:
Original Research and Systematic Reviews with the below themes are encouraged to submit:
· Diverse ED participant populations (e.g., sex, age, types of sports, countries)
· Similarities/differences between elite/professional vs. amateur athletes with ED
· Longitudinal research designs (e.g., tracking athletes’ ED status during their careers)
· The effects of ED in athletes on functioning (e.g., neurological) and performance
· Findings that highlight risk and protective factors for ED in athletes
· Research that provides new insights into these risk and protective factor intersections
· Implications for sports professionals working with athletes for early ED intervention
Overall, the data reflects that there is a higher prevalence of ED in athletes (0-19% in male athletes, and 6-45% in female athletes) compared to the general population (1% for AN, 3-5% for BN, and 13% for all ED globally). Athletes who have ED have specific consequences for their health and athletic performance, including endocrine-metabolic alterations (e.g., nutritional deficiencies, decreased bone mass, menstrual disturbances/hypogonadism) from Low Energy Availability (LEA). This negatively impacts muscle power, resistance, and in turn, performance. Sports in which there is pressure to lose and/or maintain weight for a perceived competitive advantage, and/or increased aesthetics, are those at highest risk (e.g., endurance runners, wrestling, gymnastics, ballet). As such, prevention/early intervention is important to assist athletes with maintaining optimal health and performance levels. Given this, we encourage authors to submit Original Research and Systematic Reviews with the below themes:
Original Research and Systematic Reviews with the below themes are encouraged to submit:
· Diverse ED participant populations (e.g., sex, age, types of sports, countries)
· Similarities/differences between elite/professional vs. amateur athletes with ED
· Longitudinal research designs (e.g., tracking athletes’ ED status during their careers)
· The effects of ED in athletes on functioning (e.g., neurological) and performance
· Findings that highlight risk and protective factors for ED in athletes
· Research that provides new insights into these risk and protective factor intersections
· Implications for sports professionals working with athletes for early ED intervention
Keywords: Eating Disorders, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Body Image, Athletes, Nutrition, Longitudinal Studies, Sports Professionals, Early Intervention, Eating Disorder, Anorexia, Bulimia, Exercise, Athlete, Sport, RED-S, Gymnastics, Relative Energy Deficiency
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
