© Borgis - New Medicine 2/2007, s. 22-26
*Wojciech Chalcarz, Aleksandra Musieł, Katarzyna Mucha
Assessment of anorectic behaviours among female judo athletes depending on anorexia readiness syndrome
Food and Nutrition Department of the Eugeniusz Piasecki
University School of Physical Education in Poznan
Head of the Department: Dr hab. Wojciech Chalcarz, prof. nadzw. AWF
Summary
Summary
The aim of this study was to compare anorectic behaviours among female judo athletes depending on the level of anorexia readiness syndrome (ARS).
A questionnaire survey concerning level of ARS was conducted among 72 female judo athletes aged from 13 to 22 years from 5 clubs located in Dolny Śląsk and Wielkopolska. The statistical analysis was carried out by means of the SPSS 11.5 PL for Windows computer program. The impact of ARS level on athletes´ answers was analysed.
The level of ARS significantly influenced 13 answers, with five answers each concerning forms of body weight control and reduction as well as perception of one´s own attractiveness, two answers concerning family´s style of upbringing and one answer concerning eating attitude.
Female judo athletes with high level of ARS were better educated than their colleagues with low and middle level of ARS. Most of them attended schools or classes with a sporting profile and characterized by long training periods. They paid special attention to forms of body weight control and reduction, eating attitude and perception of one´s own attractiveness. They did not feel accepted by their parents.
INTRODUCTION
Anorexia nervosa is one of the most dangerous diseases, due to its mortality rate, which stands at 18% and is the highest among all mental diseases [1, 2, 3, 4]. Its causes and origins are multifactorial [4, 5, 6, 7]. This illness is widespread not only among young girls and women, but among sportsmen as well, especially weight dependent sports such as tae kwon do, judo, karate, wrestling and rowing and aesthetic sports such as figure skating, rhythmic gymnastics, diving, synchronized swimming and dance [8, 9, 10, 11, 12]. To counteract anorexia nervosa the National Programme for Prevention and Treatment of Eating Disorders is proposed [5].
The factor that helps to distinguish people at risk of this disease is examining anorexia readiness syndrome (ARS) [13]. It is a set of symptoms implying a suspicion of abnormality in realizing food needs as well as in attitude to one´s own body. From the present literature it seems that this possibility is not used to assess anorexia risk among athletes.
The aim of this work was to compare anorectic behaviours among female judo athletes depending on the level of anorexia readiness syndrome (ARS).
MATERIAL AND METHOD
A questionnaire survey concerning level of ARS was conducted among 72 female judo athletes aged from 13 to 22 years from five clubs located in Dolny Śląsk and Wielkopolska. An individual eating and body attitude questionnaire formulated by Ziółkowska [13] was used to carry out the survey. It includes questions concerning forms of body weight control and reduction, eating attitude, family´s style of upbringing and perception of one´s own attractiveness. The questionnaire was extended with questions characterizing the surveyed group. Persons taking part in the survey were notified about their freedom of choice to fill in the form as well as the possibility to opt out of taking part in this survey.
The level of anorexia readiness syndrome (ARS) was assessed on the basis of the sum of points gained from answers to questions in an individual eating and body attitude questionnaire. Surveyed persons could obtain a maximum of 20 points. A score from 0 to 6 points indicated a low level of ARS, a score from 7 to 13 points indicated a middle level of ARS, and a score from 14 to 20 points indicated a high level of ARS [14].
The statistical analysis was carried out by means of the SPSS 11.5 PL for Windows computer program. The impact of ARS level on athletes´ answers was analysed.
The written permission of the Regional Committee for Ethics of Research by the University of Medical Science in Poznan was obtained.
RESULTS
1. Characteristics of surveyed group of people depending on the level of ARS
Characteristics of the surveyed group of female judo athletes depending on the level of ARS are presented in Table 1. The level of ARS significantly influenced the type of school, school´s or class´s profile and years of training. Athletes with high level of ARS were better educated than their colleagues with low or middle level of ARS; 75.0% of them attended schools or classes with a sporting profile and characterized by the longest training periods.
Table 1. Characteristic of surveyed group of female judo athletes depending on the level of ARS. Results are given in [%].
| Nr | Factor | Division | Level of ARS |
| Low [N=21] | Middle [N=47] | High [N=4] |
| 1. | Age | 11-15 years
16-20 years
21-25 years | 57.1
38.1
4.8 | 55.3
42.6
2.1 | 0.0
50.0
50.0 |
| 2. | Type of school | Primary School
Secondary School
High School
College | 4.8
71.4
9.5
14.3 | 8.5
70.2
14.9
6.4 | 0.0
25.0
25.0
50.0 |
| 3. | School´s/class´s profile | General
Sport | 76.2
23.8 | 83.0
17.0 | 25.0
75.0 |
| 4. | Mother´s education | Primary
Vocational
Secondary
University | 0.0
14.3
57.1
28.6 | 6.4
23.4
51.1
19.1 | 0.0
50.0
50.0
0.0 |
| 5. | Father´s education | Primary
Vocational
Secondary
University | 0.0
9.5
52.4
38.1 | 10.6
12.8
51.1
25.5 | 0.0
50.0
50.0
0.0 |
| 6. | Siblings | Yes
No | 95.2
4.8 | 97.9
2.1 | 100.0
0.0 |
| 7. | Number of brothers or sisters | None
One
Two
Three
Four
Five | 4.8
61.9
14.3
4.8
14.3
0.0 | 2.1
53.2
29.8
12.8
2.1
0.0 | 0.0
50.0
25.0
0.0
0.0
25.0 |
| 8. | Order of surveyed person among siblings | First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fith | 20.0
60.0
5.0
5.0
5.0 | 34.0
44.7
17.0
4.3
0.0 | 75.0
25.0
0.0
0.0
0.0 |
| 9. | Years of training | To 1 year
From 1 year to 3 years
From 3 years to 5 years
More than 5 years | 9.5
23.8
23.8
42.9 | 12.8
36.2
27.7
23.4 | 0.0
0.0
25.0
75.0 |
| 10. | Hours of training during week | To 3 hours
3 to 6 hours
6 to 9 hours
More than 9 hours | 14.3
38.1
47.6
0.0 | 6.4
53.2
21.3
19.1 | 25.0
0.0
75.0
0.0 |
| 11. | Sport achievements | Yes
No | 90.5
9.5 | 89.4
10.6 | 100.0
0.0 |
Bold italics type denotes statistically significant results (pŁ0,05).
Although the level of ARS did not significantly influence the remaining questions it was distinctive that female judo competitors with a high level of ARS were aged from 16 to 20 years, and from 21 to 25, with 50.0% for each. Their mothers and fathers graduated either from vocational or from secondary school. All of them had siblings and 75.0% of them were the first child in the family. 75.0% of judo athletes with high level of ARS had been training from 6 to 9 hours a week and all of them had achievements in sport.
2. Form of body weight control and reduction
Answers of the surveyed group of female judo athletes to questions concerning form of body weight control and reduction depending on the level of ARS are presented in Table 2.
Table 2. Answers of surveyed group of female judo athletes for questions concerning form of body´s weight control and reduction depending on the level of ARS. Results are given in [%].
| Nr | Question | Level of ARS |
| Low | Middle | High |
| 1. | Fasting or being on diets | 33.3 | 68.1 | 100.0 |
| 2. | Taking laxatives | 0.0 | 14.9 | 75.0 |
| 3. | Taking diet pills or appetite reducing pills | 0.0 | 6.4 | 50.0 |
| 4. | Intensive exercising or experimenting with advertised equipment | 19.0 | 59.6 | 50.0 |
| 5. | Cutting down on fat and carbohydrates | 9.5 | 68.1 | 100.0 |
Bold italics type denotes statistically significant results (pŁ0,05).
The level of ARS significantly influenced all of the questions concerning form of body weight control and reduction.
The percentage of positive answers to questions 1, 2, 3 and 5 increased with level of ARS. Only in the case of question number 4 was the largest number of positive answers given by female judo athletes with middle level of ARS. It was also characteristic that questions 1 and 5 were positively answered by all female athletes with high level of ARS. However, questions 2 and 3 were negatively answered by all female athletes with low level of ARS.
3. Eating attitude
Answers of the surveyed group of judo female athletes to questions concerning eating attitude depending on the level of ARS are presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Answers of surveyed group of female judo athletes for questions concerning eating attitude depending on the level of ARS. Results are given in [%].
| Nr | Question | Level of ARS |
| Low | Middle | High |
| 1. | Paying a lot of attention to food at home | 23.8 | 27.7 | 50.0 |
| 2. | Being annoyed with myself after eating too much | 4.8 | 29.8 | 100.0 |
| 3. | Knowing calorific value of many foodstuffs | 23.8 | 44.7 | 75.0 |
Bold italics type denotes statistically significant results (pŁ0,05).
The level of ARS significantly influenced only one question, number two, concerning being annoyed with oneself after eating too much. All female judo athletes gave a positive answer to that question and only 4.8% of competitors with low level of ARS and 29.8% with middle level of ARS. Despite the lack of significant influence of level of ARS on the remaining questions, it was characteristic that the number of positive answers increased with level of ARS.
4. Family´s style of upbringing
Answers of the surveyed group of judo female athletes to questions concerning family´s style of upbringing depending on the level of ARS are presented in Table 4.
Table 4. Answers of surveyed group of female judo athletes for questions concerning family´s upbringing style depending on the level of ARS. Results are given in [%].
| Nr | Question | Level of ARS |
| Low | Middle | High |
| 1. | Criticizing, instructing and controlling by parents | 19.0 | 59.6 | 50.0 |
| 2. | Wanting to be the best in many fields in life (learning, sport, fashion etc.) | 66.7 | 78.7 | 75.0 |
| 3. | Feeling to be not accepted by parents | 0.0 | 4.3 | 50.0 |
Bold italics type denotes statistically significant results (pŁ0,05).
The level of ARS significantly influenced two questions, numbers 1 and 3.
The most criticized, instructed and controlled by their parents were judo competitors with middle level of ARS, 59.6%; the least were competitors with low level of ARS, 19.0%. Feelings of being not accepted by one´s parents increased with level of ARS from 0.0% among judo athletes with low level of ARS to 50.0% among competitors with high level of ARS.
5. Perception of one´s own attractiveness
Answers of the surveyed group of judo female athletes to questions concerning perception of one´s own attraction depending on the level of ARS are presented in Table 5.
Table 5. Answers of surveyed group of female judo athletes for questions concerning perceiving of one´s own attraction depending on the level of ARS. Results are given in [%].
| Nr | Question | Level of ARS |
| Low | Middle | High |
| 1. | Appearance has a significant meaning in achieving life success | 42.9 | 59.6 | 100.0 |
| 2. | Paying high attention to taking care of myself, my appearance etc. | 42.9 | 78.7 | 100.0 |
| 3. | Men prefer slim women | 81.0 | 68.1 | 100.0 |
| 4. | Being in bad mood very often and feeling low self-satisfaction | 9.5 | 36.2 | 50.0 |
| 5. | Comparing myself to models and attractive actresses | 0.0 | 8.5 | 75.0 |
| 6. | Feeling that my body is not proportional | 5.0 | 36.2 | 25.0 |
| 7. | Controlling body weight and size | 90.5 | 85.1 | 100.0 |
| 8. | Being not attractive to others, and being considered as an unattractive person | 19.0 | 51.1 | 25.0 |
| 9. | Willingness to correct external appearance | 23.8 | 66.0 | 75.0 |
Bold italics type denotes statistically significant results (pŁ0,05).
The level of ARS significantly influenced questions 2, 5, 8 and 9.
The percentage of positive answers to questions 2, 5 and 9 increased with level of ARS, with the lowest percentage of positive answers given by female judo athletes with low level of ARS and the highest percentage of positive answers given by female judo athletes with high level of ARS. 51.1% of competitors with middle level of ARS and only 19.0% of judo athletes with low level of ARS agreed with the content of question number 8 concerning being not attractive to others and seeing oneself as an unattractive person.
Despite the lack of significant influence of level of ARS on the remaining questions, we should emphasize that all female judo athletes with high level of ARS answered positively to questions 1, 3 and 7.
DISCUSSION
In the analysed group of female judo athletes, in comparison with research conducted by Ziółkowska [13] on 408 students of secondary schools and high schools, there was distinguished almost the same percentage of people with low level of ARS, 29.2% vs 27.5%, almost half as high percentage of people with middle level of ARS, 65.3 vs 45.3%, and five times lower percentage of people with high level of ARS, 5.5% vs 27.2%. This diversity can be explained by the specific nature of judo. Persons practicing judo are characterized by specific aspects of personality, such as arousal seeking, sensation seeking, competitiveness, win and goal orientation [15, 16, 17, 18], and females deciding to practice this sport discipline are more determined than males as well as displaying stronger sportspersonship orientations [18]. Due to the above, female judo is not a popular sporting discipline, and female judo athletes must pay attention to maintaining the body weight which allows them to remain in the weight category in which they succeed, because passing to a higher category means achieving poorer results [19]. Due to that, the percentage of female judo athletes with high level of ARS was lower than among the population surveyed by Ziółkowska [13], and the percentage of female judo athletes with middle level of ARS was higher.
The percentage of female judo athletes with low level of ARS using reduction diets was similar to that among American secondary school students [20]. Also 36.0% of Australian girls aged from 14 to 16 years [21] used at least one of the described forms of body weight control and reduction. On the other hand, the percentage of persons using diet pills in the group of American school girls and boys was higher than among female judo athletes with middle level of ARS [20]. However, the percentage of judo female competitors with high level of ARS using laxatives, 75.0%, was considerably higher than among American, over 50.0% [22], Australian, 12.0% [23], and British, 26.4%, anorectic adolescents [24]. 5.5% of American female athletes used laxatives and diuretics [25].
The observed increase of level of ARS together with increase of undesirable behaviours concerning body weight control and reduction among the surveyed female judo athletes should be judged negatively, because the practices preferred among them will not only make it difficult to maintain the correct body weight, but will place them at an increased risk for menstrual irregularity and bone injuries [4, 26]. In order to counteract such undesirable behaviours, athletes´ as well as their trainers´ nutritional education is necessary, in particular teaching how to maintain body weight control according to binding recommendations in nutritional science on human nutrition [19, 27, 28].
Answers of the surveyed judo competitors to questions concerning their eating attitude confirmed previous observations that certain eating attitudes prevailing in the family can influence anorexia risk [4, 29, 30, 31]. Also their answers to questions concerning family´s style of upbringing confirmed current knowledge that persons suffering from anorexia or at risk of anorexia do not feel fully accepted by their parents, highlight constant criticism and control, and at the same time they try to be the best in many fields in life [4, 32, 33]. However, it needs to be emphasized that among the surveyed female judo athletes, family´s style of upbringing influenced most the answers of judo competitors with middle level of ARS.
What is more, answers of the surveyed judo competitors to questions concerning perception of one´s own attractiveness depending on the level of ARS agreed with previous observations that persons suffering from anorexia or at risk of anorexia consider physical appearance as very important in achieving life success, pay high attention to taking care of oneself, are convinced that men prefer slim women, are in a bad mood very often and feel low self-satisfaction, compare themselves to models and attractive actresses, do not think their body is proportional, control their body weight and size, are convinced their attractiveness is lower than their peers, and if they could they would correct their external appearance [4, 34, 35, 36]. In order to improve the perception of female judo athletes´ own attractiveness these issues should be included in sport psychologists´ work.
From the comparison of female judo athletes´ answers to the set questions, it is clearly seen that female judo athletes with high level of ARS paid special attention to forms of body weight control and reduction, eating attitude and perception of one´s own attractiveness. Also they did not feel accepted by their parents.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Female judo athletes with high level of ARS were better educated than their colleagues with low and middle level of ARS, and most of them attended schools or classes with a sporting profile and characterized by the longest training periods. They paid special attention to forms of body weight control and reduction, eating attitude and perception of one´s own attractiveness. They did not feel accepted by their parents.
2. Nutritional education of female judo athletes in weight control and psychological help in improvement of perception of their own attractiveness are necessary in order to counteract their anorectic behaviours.
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