Lower Prevalence of Disordered Eating Behaviours Among Norwegian Female Athletes Compared to Non-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire

Mimmi M. S. Vedenpaa; Edvard H. Sagelv; Monica Klungland Torstveit; Kristin Benjaminsen Borch; John Owen Osborne

doi:10.1002/ejsc.70043

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Lower Prevalence of Disordered Eating Behaviours Among Norwegian Female Athletes Compared to Non-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire

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Lower Prevalence of Disordered Eating Behaviours Among Norwegian Female Athletes Compared to Non-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire

Mimmi M. S. Vedenpaa, Edvard H. Sagelv, Monica Klungland Torstveit, Kristin Benjaminsen Borch and John Owen Osborne

European Journal of Sport Science, Vol.25(9), pp.1-12

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70043

PMCID: PMC12365784

PMID: 40832919

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

eating behaviours

eating disorders

EDE-Q

leanness

women

UniSC Diversity Area - Disability and Inclusion

The purpose of this study was to report and compare the prevalence of disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) among Norwegian female athletes of different competition levels and sport types, and non-athletes of different physical activity levels. A total of 565 females (athletes: n = 189; non-athletes: n = 376) completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q). Athletes were categorised as recreational (n = 72), national (n = 94), or elite (n = 23), while non-athlete females were sedentary (n = 111) or physically active but non-competitive (exercisers: n = 265). A global EDE-Q score of > 2.5 was considered as increased risk of an eating disorder. Data were modelled using linear or logistic regression, adjusted for body mass index (BMI), age category, and education level. Global EDE-Q score was lower among recreational (mean [95% confidence interval]): (1.73 [1.31, 2.14]; p = 0.003; d = 0.50) and national-level athletes (1.89 [1.52,2.26]; p = 0.024; d = 0.39) compared to exercisers (2.47 [2.19,2.75]), with recreational athletes also scoring lower than sedentary females (2.43 [2.09,2.78]; p = 0.022; d = 0.47). Leanness focused sports had higher restraint (p = 0.046; d = 0.30) and eating concern (p = 0.025; d = 0.35) subscale scores compared to non-leanness focused sports. Recreational- or national-level athletes scored on average lower DEB symptoms using EDE-Q, compared to sedentary and physical-active non-athletes. No EDE-Q difference was found between competition levels. Leanness focused sport athletes were more concerned about eating behaviours and had higher restraint than athletes from non-leanness focused sports. These findings suggest that sport participation may be associated with lower or higher disordered eating symptoms, depending on competitive level and type of sport, highlighting the complexity of these relationships in physically active females.

Details

Title: Lower Prevalence of Disordered Eating Behaviours Among Norwegian Female Athletes Compared to Non-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
Authors: Mimmi M. S. Vedenpaa (Author) - UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Edvard H. Sagelv (Author) - UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Monica Klungland Torstveit (Author) - University of Agder
Kristin Benjaminsen Borch (Author) - UiT The Arctic University of Norway
John Owen Osborne (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health
Publication details: European Journal of Sport Science, Vol.25(9), pp.1-12
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1002/ejsc.70043
ISSN: 1536-7290
PMID: 40832919; PMC12365784
Copyright note: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2025 The Author(s). European Journal of Sport Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of European College of Sport Science.
Grant note: This study was funded by the Tromsø Research Foundation via the Female Endurance Athlete (FENDURA) project (Project‐ID:19_FENDURA_BW).
Organisation Unit: School of Health
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991162645502621
Output Type: Journal article

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