Nutrition in Sports

Complications of BD
Complications that BD may cause or
be associated with include:

An Introduction to
Body Dysmorphia
and
Disordered Eating in
Collegiate Athletes

-Malnutrition
-Anxiety disorders
-Eating disorders
-Depression
-Negatively affected impacts on
school or work.

Questions or concerns? Please

refer to the listed sources for
additional help and information:
www.adaa.org

What Can the RD Do?

Since BD can cause deficits in
nutritional status and health, it is
imperative that the RD provide
nutrition education and intervention
to the athlete.
However, the underlying causes of
developing BD are sometimes the
product of a more serious
psychological disorder.
It is important to understand the
root cause of the problem and refer
the athlete to a doctor if necessary.

www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
www.bddclinic.com

Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
Mschwel@bgsu.edu
Ktribbl@bgsu.edu

Megan Schweller
&
Kate Tribble
A Capstone Presentation

A Briefing of Body Dysmorphia

What is Body Dysmorphia?

Characterized by dissatisfaction with
weight, body shape and/or appearance,
low body esteem, and low self-esteem,
body dysmorphia (BD) is defined as a
size misperception and/or negative
attitude towards ones body.

A representation of an athlete suffering

from Body Dysmorphia

The Common Struggle of a

Collegiate Athlete
The collegiate athlete in this
generation is filled with many
pressuring obligations: meeting
weight requirements, staying in top
physical condition, and competing
with other top athletes in the country.
With this often times challenging
mental and physical workload,
athletes (both men and women) can
begin to develop unhealthy eating and
exercise patterns, self-image
dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem
potentially leading to an image
disorder known as body dysmorphia.
Body dysmorphia can affect both men
and women, although the prevalence is
shown to be higher in women. Body
dysmorphia can also effect populations
other than athletes.

An athlete may never find themselves in

perfect shape; always trying to lose
weight and gain muscle. Having these
symptoms can not only have adverse
physical effects on the body, but also
mental effects on the brain as well.

Signs and Symptoms of Body

Dysmorphia
Athletes may exhibit signs of having or
potentially developing BD. Look out for
the following:
-Body dissatisfaction
-Use of diuretics or laxatives
-Binge eating
-Fasting, dieting, or restrictive
eating
-Unhealthy weight control methods

Prevalence Between Male

and Female Athletes
Although the prevalence is statistically
greater in females, BD is becoming
increasingly more apparent in men.
Within the past 20 years, the percentage
of male athletes being diagnosed with
BD has gone up from 15% to 43%.
Women are more likely to develop BD
due to effeminate sports such as
gymnastics and dancing, as men are
more likely to develop BD due to sports
such as wrestling and competitive weight
lifting.

Risk Factors
The causes of BD are currently
unknown, but there are certain factors
that seem to increase the risk of
developing or triggering the condition
including:
-Have biological relatives with BD
-Negative or traumatic life
experiences (childhood teasing,
parental pressures)

-Depression

-Personality traits, including low

self-esteem

-Avoidance of social situations

-Having anxiety or depression

-Frequent scrutiny of appearance

-Societal pressure or expectations

of beauty