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Middle
School Girls: Sports Participation and Eating Disorders
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Given concerns that older
adolescent females engage in dieting extremes and excessive exercise to
control weight or body shape, this study explored sports participation,
weight perceptions, and eating beliefs and practices among a group of
middle school girls. Students (n=256) in grades five through eight of
two private and three public schools completed a 28-item survey during
a health education class. It included Kids Eating Disorder Survey (1993)
and items about sports activities and use of sports and exercise to control
weight.
Over half (56%) the girls believed that they "look fat" and
the mean difference between their measured weight and "desired"
weight was 8.0 pounds. The group reported an average of 2.1 weight-dissatisfied
beliefs and restrictive eating or disordered (fasting, diet pills) behaviors.
Respondent students played in an average of 4.5 sports, most commonly
basketball and soccer. Nearly a fourth reported using sports to lose weight.
Thirteen percent (n=30) had ever engaged in a dangerous practice such
as vomiting or pill use.
There was no significant relationship between the total number of sports
played and the number of dangerous or restrictive eating behaviors. Participants
in some types of sports (aerobics, cheerleading, dance, gymnastics) were
somewhat more likely to diet than those in the team ball sports.
Self-esteem and well-being associated with youth sports participation
may confer a protective effect against eating disordered beliefs in middle
school years.
(Burckes-Miller M and Burak L. Am J Health Educ 2002;33(6):338-343.)
Comment: Middle school years are a
potent time to build positive beliefs and habits for life. Schools and
communities ought to build on the positive effects of sport activities
and minimize negative pressures, undue competition, and unrealistic weight
rules that usually appear during high school. -J.O.
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