Profile of eating disorder symptomatology among female figure skaters : how effective is education? / by Tiffany Hayward

Abstract

To better understand the level of eating disorder risk experienced by figure skaters, a profile of eating disorder symptomatology among adolescent female figure skaters at the senior competitive level in areas of Southern and Northern Ontario was developed in the present research. Psychological and socio-cultural factors associated with eating disorder symptomatology in the sport of figure skating were examined carefully. A preliminary investigation to explore the effectiveness of a health promotion education series involved early adolescent figure skaters from the Thunder Bay area ranging in age from 10 to 14 years. The educational component aimed to develop a model of healthy living while increasing the participants’ knowledge base encompassing the topics of nutrition, regular physical activity, a healthy body image, self-esteem, and diet attitudes; in hopes that it may lead to an increased awareness in healthy living. Of particular interest, the sample of figure skaters exhibited an elevated score in the Eating Disorder Risk Composite (EDRC), suggesting that the skaters have extreme eating/weight concerns, fear of weight gain, a desire to be thinner, binge eating tendencies, and body dissatisfaction (Garner, 2004). The educational component illustrated an increase in knowledge base encompassing the topics of nutrition, physical activity, a healthy body image, self esteem, and diet attitudes. In addition, the participants were successful in developing a model of healthy living.