A Cross-Sectional study of Eating Attitudes in Hong Kong Athletes

Numerous studies have explored disordered eating (DE) in athletes, yet their findings frequently conflict. This research focused on examining the prevalence of DE among HK Chinese athletes. A sample of 100 athletes participated in the study, which employed a cross-sectional design using the EAT-26 questionnaire. The results revealed a prevalence rate of 4.0%, notably lower than global averages. Athletes with dieting experience scored higher on EAT-26 compared to those without (8.08 ± 9.03 vs. 4.92 ± 5.73, p < 0.05). Lower body image (BI ≤ 5 out of 9) was associated with higher EAT-26 scores compared to higher body image (BI > 5) (9.91 ± 8.89 vs. 4.21 ± 5.51, p < 0.05). Pearson’s correlation analysis demonstrated that age and EAT-26 scores showed a weak negative correlation (r = -0.234, p < 0.05), while self-perceived BI had a moderate negative correlation with EAT-26 scores (r = -0.344, p < 0.01). Regression analysis identified age (β = -0.339, p < 0.001) and self-perceived BI (β = -0.226, p < 0.05) as predictors of EAT-26 scores. Results align with international studies indicating higher scores among younger athletes and those with dieting history, suggesting tailored health education programs for different groups may be beneficial. Level of Evidence: Level V, Descriptive Study.