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The 'Young Athlete Body Project'—A pilot study evaluating the acceptability of and results from an eating disorder prevention program for adolescent athletes

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Title: The 'Young Athlete Body Project'—A pilot study evaluating the acceptability of and results from an eating disorder prevention program for adolescent athletes
Authors: Christine Sundgot‐Borgen, Line Wisting, Jorunn Sundgot‐Borgen, Karoline Steenbuch, Jenny Vik Skrede, Karoline Nilsen, Eric Stice, Therese Fostervold Mathisen
Source: International Journal of Eating Disorders
Publisher Information: Wiley, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Subject Terms: Male, Adolescent, body image, 4. Education, 05 social sciences, Pilot Projects, eating disorders, VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Idrettsmedisinske fag: 850, prevention program, 3. Good health, internalization, Feeding and Eating Disorders, body appearance idealization, Thinness, Athletes, Humans, Female, 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences, sport, adolescent athletes, body project, Sports
Description: BackgroundThe high frequency of eating disorders (EDs) in sports speaks of a need for early‐stage preventive measures.ObjectivesThis study evaluated the acceptability of an age, sex, and sports adapted version of the “Body Project” and changes in mental health symptoms.MethodsThis noncontrolled pilot study included a class of athletes from 18 sports (N = 73, 13–14 years) at a sport‐specialized junior high school in six small‐group workshops. We interviewed 34 athletes on program acceptability, and all athletes responded to questionnaires at pretest, posttest, and 6‐month follow‐up including the Body Appreciation Scale 2–Children, Social Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire‐4 revised, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short form‐12 modified, and questions about body appearance pressure (BAP).ResultsAthletes found the program acceptable and beneficial, but some missed physically oriented activities or did not identify with the focus, particularly boys. There were acceptable levels in mental health constructs before the workshops. There were temporary changes in the percentage of boys experiencing “BAP in society” by −14.8% points (95% CI: −.6 to .0, p = .04), % in total group experiencing “BAP at school” by +11% points (95% CI: .0–.2, p = .05), thinness idealization by girls (g = .6, p = .002) and total group (g = .4, p = .006), and muscularity idealization by boys (g = .3, p = .05) and total group (g = .23, p = .04).DiscussionAthletes experienced benefits from the Young Athlete Body Project. Seeing stabilization in outcomes may mean a dampening of the otherwise expected worsening in body appreciation and ED symptoms over time.Public SignificanceAdolescent athletes are at risk for developing EDs. Due to lack of prevention programs for this group, we adapted and evaluated a well‐documented effective program, the Body Project, to fit male and female athletes
Document Type: Article
File Description: application/pdf
Language: English
ISSN: 1098-108X
0276-3478
DOI: 10.1002/eat.24140
Access URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38238966
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3188338
Rights: CC BY NC
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....dccd431d2321a17101ecf79c26de5c3e
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:BackgroundThe high frequency of eating disorders (EDs) in sports speaks of a need for early‐stage preventive measures.ObjectivesThis study evaluated the acceptability of an age, sex, and sports adapted version of the “Body Project” and changes in mental health symptoms.MethodsThis noncontrolled pilot study included a class of athletes from 18 sports (N = 73, 13–14 years) at a sport‐specialized junior high school in six small‐group workshops. We interviewed 34 athletes on program acceptability, and all athletes responded to questionnaires at pretest, posttest, and 6‐month follow‐up including the Body Appreciation Scale 2–Children, Social Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire‐4 revised, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short form‐12 modified, and questions about body appearance pressure (BAP).ResultsAthletes found the program acceptable and beneficial, but some missed physically oriented activities or did not identify with the focus, particularly boys. There were acceptable levels in mental health constructs before the workshops. There were temporary changes in the percentage of boys experiencing “BAP in society” by −14.8% points (95% CI: −.6 to .0, p = .04), % in total group experiencing “BAP at school” by +11% points (95% CI: .0–.2, p = .05), thinness idealization by girls (g = .6, p = .002) and total group (g = .4, p = .006), and muscularity idealization by boys (g = .3, p = .05) and total group (g = .23, p = .04).DiscussionAthletes experienced benefits from the Young Athlete Body Project. Seeing stabilization in outcomes may mean a dampening of the otherwise expected worsening in body appreciation and ED symptoms over time.Public SignificanceAdolescent athletes are at risk for developing EDs. Due to lack of prevention programs for this group, we adapted and evaluated a well‐documented effective program, the Body Project, to fit male and female athletes
ISSN:1098108X
02763478
DOI:10.1002/eat.24140