Prevalence and Risk Factors for Eating Disorders in Adolescent Female Basketball Players.

Background

Eating disorders (EDs) adversely affect health and athletic performance, yet their prevalence in adolescent female team athletes is understudied.

Objectives

This exploratory pilot study assessed ED presence and associated factors in female basketball players aged 10-18 years from a high-level club in Granada, Spain.

Methods

This cross-sectional pilot study examined 36 participants (mean age 13.3 ± 2.2 years) who completed the Spanish Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q). Body composition (Tanita TBF-300), sociodemographic characteristics, and sport-related factors were recorded. Associations between these covariates and S-EDE-Q global scores (GS) were examined via linear regression.

Results

A higher Global Score (GS), indicating increased ED risk, correlated significantly with several factors: Lower paternal education (primary vs. university: p < 0.005) and lower socioeconomic level. Older age (AME = 0.30; p < 0.005) and greater muscle mass (p < 0.001). National competition level (p < 0.001), being a player in the pivot position (mean GS = 1.62), and presence of sport-related medical history (mean GS = 1.07). No associations were found with sport experience or weekly training hours.

Conclusions

Although the overall risk of EDs is low, the association with specific factors (sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sports-related) allows vulnerable players to be identified. Longitudinal and larger-scale research is needed to confirm these initial findings and design targeted and early prevention strategies.