Body Image of Highly Trained Female Athletes Engaged in Different Types of Sport.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in body image across different types of sports in highly trained female athletes.

METHODS

242 female individuals, aged 13-30 years (M = 20.0, SD = 4.5), representing aesthetic sports ( = 56) and nonaesthetic sports ( = 186), were recruited from different sports clubs in Poland. Body image, BMI, age, the level of competition attained, and the training background of participants were recorded.

RESULTS

One-way ANOVA showed differences in the body image of athletes engaged in different types of sport ((11,230) = 4.10, < 0.001, and = 0.16). The model predicting the body image of female athletes was significant ((5,236) = 10.40, < 0.001); the adjusted = 0.163. Type of sport explained 7.1% ( = -0.263, < 0.001), age explained 4.5% ( = 0.341, < 0.001), BMI explained 3.6% ( = -0.230, < 0.001), and level of competition explained 0.9% ( = 0.153, < 0.05) of variance in body image.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings provide vital new knowledge which can be used by researchers and practitioners in designing educational programs on weight-related behaviors in female athletes. Such programs should be implemented especially in young female athletes participating in high-level sporting activities at an early stage.