Kovács Réka Erika, Alpay Merve, Karsai István, Tornóczky Gusztáv József, Petróczi Andrea, Boros Szilvia
Doctoral School of Education, Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1075 Budapest, Hungary.
National Institute for Sports Medicine, H-1123 Budapest, Hungary.
Nutrients. 2025 Jan 9;17(2):231. doi: 10.3390/nu17020231.
disordered eating (DE) and eating disorders (ED) can negatively impact athletes' health, wellbeing, and athletic performance.
this cross-sectional study aims to assess DE risk, body composition, and nutrition knowledge among elite Hungarian athletes.
DE risk was assessed using DESA-6H and EAT-26 scales, nutrition knowledge through the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ), and body composition with the OMRON BF511 device. The data were analyzed using Kendall's tau correlations, Mann-Whitney U tests, and ROC analysis.
a total of 71 athletes participated (39.4% males, mean age = 24.8 years, SD = 4.8 years and 60.6% females, mean age = 24.3 years, SD = 4.3 years). At-risk scores on the DESA-6H scale were recorded for nine athletes (12.7%), while 32.4% scored in the risk zone on the EAT-26, with female athletes in aesthetic, endurance and weight-dependent sports being most affected. Low BF was observed in four males and four females. Nutrition knowledge (49.1%) was below the acceptable threshold. DESA-6H significantly correlated with EAT-26 scores, BMI, sports nutrition knowledge, and A-NSKQ total scores. A statistically significant difference by gender was found in the EAT-26 total score ( = 0.019, d = 0.65). Risk groups significantly differed in A-NSKQ scores ( = 0.026, d = 0.511) and sport nutrition knowledge, specifically ( = 0.016, d = 0.491). Using EAT-26 to identify at-risk athletes and the DESA-6H recommended cut-off, the ROC analysis showed a sensitivity of 29.1% and a specificity of 95.7%.
insufficient nutrition knowledge plays a role in being at-risk for DE and ED. These results underscore the need for early detection, early sport nutrition education across all elite athletes, with particular attention to female athletes in aesthetic, endurance and weight-dependent sports, and for monitoring these athletes to prevent DE. Further work is warranted to optimize screening tools such as EAT-26 and DESA-6H for elite athletes.
饮食失调（DE）和进食障碍（ED）会对运动员的健康、幸福感和运动表现产生负面影响。
这项横断面研究旨在评估匈牙利精英运动员的饮食失调风险、身体成分和营养知识。
使用DESA - 6H和EAT - 26量表评估饮食失调风险，通过简化的运动营养知识问卷（A - NSKQ）评估营养知识，使用欧姆龙BF511设备测量身体成分。数据采用肯德尔tau相关性分析、曼 - 惠特尼U检验和ROC分析。
共有71名运动员参与（39.4%为男性，平均年龄 = 24.8岁，标准差 = 4.8岁；60.6%为女性，平均年龄 = 24.3岁，标准差 = 4.3岁）。9名运动员（12.7%）在DESA - 6H量表上的得分处于风险范围，而32.4%的运动员在EAT - 26量表上的得分处于风险区域，其中从事审美、耐力和体重相关运动的女运动员受影响最大。4名男性和4名女性的体脂率较低。营养知识（49.1%）低于可接受阈值。DESA - 6H与EAT - 26得分、BMI、运动营养知识和A - NSKQ总分显著相关。EAT - 26总分在性别上存在统计学显著差异（P = 0.019，d = 0.65）。风险组在A - NSKQ得分（P = 0.026，d = 0.511）和运动营养知识方面存在显著差异，具体而言（P = 0.016，d = 0.491）。使用EAT - 26识别有风险的运动员以及DESA - 6H推荐的临界值，ROC分析显示敏感性为29.1%，特异性为95.7%。
营养知识不足在饮食失调和进食障碍风险中起作用。这些结果强调了对所有精英运动员进行早期检测、早期运动营养教育的必要性，尤其要关注从事审美、耐力和体重相关运动的女运动员，并对这些运动员进行监测以预防饮食失调。有必要进一步开展工作，优化针对精英运动员的筛查工具，如EAT - 26和DESA - 6H。
