Again, the maximum possible circulation was encouraged. The highest possible degree of distribution was requested.Īt the same time, participation in the research was requested through direct contacts, through the public display of informational posters and the main social networks. In addition, the URL to an online self-administered form was sent to them to distribute it among the players that met the criteria. The purpose of the investigation was explained to them and the criteria that athletes had to meet to participate in the investigation. First, all the Spanish team sports federations and their main clubs were contacted by email. Those under 18 or over 55 years old, those who did not give express consent to their participation or those who made mistakes when completing the requested documentation were excluded from the sample.ĭata collection was carried out between January and March 2020. The inclusion criteria have been: being male, practising some team sport and being federated in Spain. Therefore, this research is proposed to determine the prevalence of EDs in men who practise team sports.Īn observational study has been carried out with a sample of 124 subjects.
2 4 10 13 14 16 19–21 23 24 This exclusion may be questioned based on the following considerations: (1) current information regarding EDs in sports is insufficient, especially in the case of male team sports players 2 8 12 (2) several investigations warn about a potential underdiagnosis of EDs in men 23 25–29 (3) there is previous evidence of relevant concern regarding body image in team sports players and there are previous studies that do not find differences in the risk of EDs between these and other athletes generally accepted to be at high risk of these pathologies 11 30 31 and (4) it is not yet known with certainty whether the team acts as a protective factor or as a risk factor for the development of EDs. Therefore, men practising team sports are usually excluded from the population considered at high risk for ED development.
In this sense, scientific evidence showed that the prevalence of EDs is higher in females, adolescents and athletes-competing in aesthetic sports, weight categories, gymnasium and endurance. However, the prevalence of EDs in sport is not yet known, 2 4 7 8 10–18 although it is known that the risk of EDs is higher than in the general population. 5–9 Furthermore, the development of an ED in these subjects will drastically alter their performance, with psychological and social consequences. 1–4įurthermore, in the case of athletes, it is known that the physical imbalance derived from an ED can be even worse due to the regular practice of physical exercise with low availability of energy and nutrients. Thus, EDs are a threat to the physical and psychological well-being of the person, leading to physical illness or even death. In general terms, EDs are characterised by an unusual concern about body weight and body image that can become the focus of daily life, reducing the interest in other aspects of life.
Eating disorders (EDs) are classified as a mental illness, and they are defined as a set of psychological disorders that generate dysfunctional attitudes, behaviours and strategies regarding food intake or absorption.