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Eating Disorders in College Female Athletes
Elizabeth Brennan
Psychology 469
Dr. ... The most prevalent of disorders seen in female college students are eating disorders (ED). ... The third type of eating disorder is binge eating, which is identified as compulsive eating (Raulin, 2002). ...
There have been many studies focusing on ED and the correlation with female college athletes. Studies have shown inconsistent results that ED are more likely to occur in female college athletes than in non-athletes. In this paper, I will address the problems of ED among college aged women athletes, discuss previous research and discuss prevention programs that help to prevent ED in these women.
Researchers that have studied the incidence of eating disorder among female college athletes have made hypotheses that participation in sports may increase the risk levels for eating disorders. The cause of these eating disorders is probably because women athletes usually feel tremendous pressure to strive for low body weight or fat in order to please a coach, make a team, or maintain a competitive edge in a sport. Another explanation proposed is that there is a link between the characteristics of perfectionism, self-motivation, and high achievement expectations, which are risk factors for eating disorders (Kirk & Singh, 2001).
Research studies that have been done examining eating disorders among female college athletes have shown inconsistent results. For example, some studies have shown that athletes are at greater risk for eating disorders than are college students in general (Benson & Allemann, 1990). Other results have shown that athletes are actually at lower risk than non-athletes (Kurtman & Yager, 1989). But, since these studies, eating disorders have become more common among college females, thus, Kirk Ginger and Kusum Singh, in 2001, proposed a study that fills in the gaps in the literature on comparative studies. In addition, the study examined differences among participants in various sports, assuming that participation in different types of sports mat pose differential pressures and will result in higher or lower risk of eating disorders.
Approximate Word count = 1551
Approximate Pages = 6.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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