Author(s)

Bernd Zeulner¹, Heiko Ziemainz², Christian Beyer³, Matthias Hammon⁴, Rolf Janka⁴

¹Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
²Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
³Department of Internal Medicine 3 for Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
⁴Department of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.

Background: The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of disordered eating and exercise dependence among elite and amateur endurance athletes, both male and female, and to find out whether there was an association between disordered eating and exercise addiction in these athletes. Methods: 1031 participants of major German endurance events (745 male, 286 female, 528 elite athletes and 503 hobby athletes) with a mean age of 41.6 ± 10.7 years old completed a set of questionnaires, including the SCOFF questionnaire and the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI). Results: A rate of 18.9% of the athletes surveyed were at risk for developing an eating disorder, slightly higher than that in the normal population, and 2.7% had the potential to develop an exercise addiction. There was a significant correlation between exercise addiction and eating disorders. No gender difference related to the probability of developing an eating disorder or an exercise addiction, nor a difference between elite or amateur athletes was found. Exercise addiction and eating disorders showed a significant correlation.

Athlete’s Triad, Running Addiction, Anorexia Athletica, Commitment to Running, Running, Cycling, Triathlon

Zeulner, B. , Ziemainz, H. , Beyer, C. , Hammon, M. and Janka, R. (2016) Disordered Eating and Exercise Dependence in Endurance Athletes. Advances in Physical Education, 6, 76-87. doi: 10.4236/ape.2016.62009.