The body dissatisfaction (BD) is considered a symptom of first order in the onset of eating disorders (ED). The athletic environment has unique factors that appear to potentiate the risk for the emergence of ED in athletes. The purpose of this study was to compare the BD and inappropriate eating behavior (IEB) among adolescent athletes of different sports and competitive levels using the body mass index (BMI), fat percentage and age as covariates. The study sample consisted of 580 athletes of both sexes, aged between 10 and 19 years. We used the BSQ and the EAT-26 to measure the BD and IEB, respectively. Weight and height were measured for BMI determination. Relative fat was estimated via triceps and subscapular skinfolds. A univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to compare BD and IEB between the different competitive levels and sports, according to sex. A significant differences in BD was observed between male basketball and handball players (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant difference was found in IEB between female volleyball players and synchronized swimmers (p < 0.05). The results of this study allow us to conclude that the dietary patterns are similar in adolescent athletes regardless of the sport and competitive level.
Body image; Eating disorders; Sport
