Peer reviewedERIC Number: EJ696192
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Mar-1
Pages: 6
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
A Preliminary Survey of Dieting, Body Dissatisfaction, and Eating Problems among High School Cheerleaders.
Thompson, Sharon H.; Digsby, Sohailla
Journal of School Health, v74 n3 p85 Mar 2004
Cheerleading, a staple of American schools, has received little attention in scholarly research. This sport is considered "high risk" for development of eating disorders; therefore, female, high school cheerleaders (n = 156, mean age = 15.43 years) from the southeastern region were surveyed in this preliminary study to determine rates of dieting, body dissatisfaction, and eating problems. Almost one-half of the girls (46%) indicated they were currently trying to lose weight. Body dissatisfaction was significant by race [[chi square] (2, n = 153) = 9.270, p = .010] and was reported by 50% and 73.5% of Black and White girls, respectively. About 13% of girls had EAT-26 scores of 20 or higher (possible eating problems). On the Orientation to Exercise Questionnaire, a measure of subclinical eating disorders, those with eating problems (EAT-26 score of [greater than or equal to] 20) had significantly higher scores (M = 87.65, p = .0002) than those without problems (M = 76.05). Furthermore, scores increased by 69% for each unit increase in BMI (p = .0481, slope = +.6902). The cheerleaders did not appear at higher risk for eating problems than adolescent girls in general but this age group is considered at "high risk " for eating disorders, so those who work with cheerleaders should be aware of warning signs.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles
Education Level: N/A
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