Eating disorders can affect anyone, but science is only just learning why it may affect the fitness … [+]
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology reveals that screening athletes and fitness enthusiasts for eating disorders presents distinctive challenges, which are less frequently encountered in the general population.
The study emphasizes that there are five prevalent characteristics within the sports environment that contribute to the difficulties in diagnosing and identifying these disorders. They are:
- Dietary control
- Body weight control
- Training obsession
- Appetite regulation
- Calorie counting
“Without some level of dissatisfaction with ourselves, we would not have the motivation to exercise and the desire to look better. I fear that quite a few individuals from the fitness community are characterized by an almost pathological dissatisfaction with themselves and a problem with self-acceptance,” explains Dr. Daniela Stackeová, the lead author of the study and a professor at