Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the attitude towards body mass control and the risk of eating disorders (EDs) in the sample of students involved in achievement sports (n = 118, 41.5 % women). All these parameters were assessed by an attitude towards body mass control questionnaire, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT -26), The Rosenberg self-Esteem Scale. Body mass index (BMI) was also computed. The results showed high dissatisfaction about body weight and high discrepancy between actual weight and weight evaluation, especially among girls and athletes of aesthetical and combat sports. More than one third of students reported weight reduction-related dieting, while the majority of dieters reported that the main motive to decrease body weight is related to an appearance rather than athletic investment. 6.8% of students would be “of risk” of EDs (EAT > 20). Regression analysis has demonstrated that involvement in aesthetical and combat sports and commitment to sportsmanship most predicted risk of EDs. This study showed that students lack rational understanding about their own body weight control despite of huge amount of studies in biomedical area. Verf.-Referat