Pedagogics, Psychology, Medical-Biological Problems of Physical Training and Sports (Apr 2015)
Body weight satisfaction and disordered eating among youth who are active in sport in Singapore
Abstract
Purpose : The research examined the relationship between body weight satisfaction and disordered eating among youth who are active in sport in Singapore. Method : 137 youths (82 boys and 55 girls; age 12-13) enrolled in school sport completed two self-report questionnaires- SCOFF for disordered eating and body weight satisfaction- on two separate occasions that were six months apart (T1 vs. T2). Results : Body mass index for age classifications revealed that 5.1% were severely underweight; 1.5% underweight; 88.3% acceptable weight; 4.4% overweight and 0.7% were severely overweight. Conclusions : (i) the prevalence of disordered eating was 46% at baseline measurement and this remained stable at 45.3% six months later; (ii) there was no sex difference for disordered eating on the two measurement occasions (T1 vs. T2, p>0.05); (iii) the prevalence of youths unsure of their bodyweight satisfaction was 26.6-21.2% which compared to 88.3% adjudged to be of healthy weight; across T1 and T2, more male subjects wanted to gain bodyweight while more female subjects wanted to lose bodyweight; and (iv) subjects who were dissatisfied with their bodyweight had significantly greater odds of being at risk for developing DE. Holistic education programmes based upon body image and nutrition, are recommended.
