Eating disorders in Swedish female elite athletes – coaches’ knowledge and practice in identification and management

Paulina Nowicka, J Sundgot-Borgen, Erwin Apitzsch

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearch

Abstract

The issue of weight preoccupation and eating disorders are receiving growing interest in the sport environment. Success in some sports requires an extremely lean appearance, which may lead to pressure from coaches and parents to be thin. Other sports use weight classifications that determine in which group an athlete will compete, requiring him/her to drop several kilos before competition. The aim of the study was to investigate the coaches’ role in identification and management of eating disorders in elite female athletes. Eighteen elite coaches representing three sport groups were interviewed: aesthetic sports (n=5), weight class sports (n=7) and endurance sports (n=6). Mean coaching experience was 17 years. The results of this study revealed that coaches’ knowledge of symptoms of eating disorders was limited, especially bulimia. Many coaches considered knowledge of eating disorders as the least important skill in relation to nutrition and weight regulation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSVEBIS årsbok. Aktuell beteendevetenskaplig idrottsforskning 2004
EditorsG Patriksson
PublisherSVEBI (Svensk förening för beteendevetenskaplig idrottsforskning )
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Publication series

Name
ISSN (Print)0284-4672

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Pediatrics

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