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A new method can predict psychological factors for eating disorders among high-risk female college athletes, according to new research.

Approximately 8 million Americans suffer from some sort of eating disorder. While almost 20 percent of college-aged women are bulimic, athletes represent a group at higher risk for eating disorders.

Led by Pamela Hilton, assistant professor of nutritional sciences, researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia tested the dependability of ATHLETE -- a questionnaire designed to determine factors associated with eating disorders in athletes. Researchers surveyed 167 Division I female athletes and measured variables like drive for thinness and performance, social pressure on eating, performance perfectionism, social pressure on body shape, and team trust.

Sixty percent of the athletes surveyed reported the desire to drop at least five pounds, with 30 percent actively working to lose weight for their sport. Researchers found almost 20 percent of the athletes met criteria or demonstrated symptoms of an eating disorder.

"We can use the questionnaire to determine which psychological factors are associated with disordered eating in athletes," Hinton says. "For example, if athletes who feel pressure from their coaches to lose weight are more likely to have eating disorders than athletes who don't feel pressure, then education of coaches may be an effective component of an eating disorder prevention program."

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: University of Missouri-Columbia, published online Oct. 5, 2005

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