Prevalence of Eating Disorders and Their Association with a Previously Suffered Concussion Among Student-Athletes at a Power Five Conference University

Abstract Objectives Estimate the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) and their association with a previously suffered concussion among student-athletes at a Power Five conference university. Methods An observational, cross-sectional, and survey-based study was conducted among student-athletes of a Power Five conference university in Lubbock, Texas. Assessments of eating disorders were carried out using the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnoses (QEDD), which operationalizes ED criteria of the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Questionnaires were administered via the web-based survey platform Qualtrics. A total of 413 student-athletes were eligible for the study. Results Final analysis included data from 158 student-athletes across 11 different sports disciplines. A total of 7 respondents (4.4%, 95% CI: 1.9%, 9.2%) met diagnostic criteria for ED: 6 cases of Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) and 1 case of non-purging bulimia. A majority of cases of EDNOS were observed among student athletes participating in Track & Field (n = 4). Thirty-four respondents (21.5%, 95% CI: 15.5%, 28.9%) reported symptoms of ED but did not meet diagnostic criteria. Binging was the most prevalently reported symptom (n = 22, 65%). Statistical analysis of the incidence of ED and disordered eating among those with (n = 54), and without, a previous concussion demonstrated no significant difference (P = 1 and P = 0.7, respectively; Fisher's exact test). Conclusions An important prevalence of disordered eating behaviors seems to exist among this student-athlete population. However, no significant association with a previous concussion was found. Nonetheless, such results warrant for the implementation of effective screening measures and interventions for ED and associated symptoms considering their potential adverse effects on student-athletes’ long-term physical and mental health. Funding Sources Texas Tech University.