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Cited by 368Eating Disorders and BehaviorsNutrition, Health and Food BehaviorDoping in Sports

How to minimise the health risks to athletes who compete in weight-sensitive sports review and position statement on behalf of the Ad Hoc Research Working Group on Body Composition, Health and Performance, under the auspices of the IOC Medical Commission

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Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn, Meyer, Nanna L, Lohman, Timothy G, Ackland, Timothy R, Maughan, Ronald J, Stewart, Arthur D, Müller, Wolfram·2013·British Journal of Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092966
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Abstract

A focus on low body weight and body fat content, combined with regulations in some weight-sensitive sports, are considered risk factors for extreme dieting, eating disorders (EDs) and related health consequences among athletes. At present there are, from a health perspective, no generally accepted optimum values for body weight or percentage of fat mass in different sports and there is no ‘gold standard’ method for body composition assessment in athletes. On the basis of health considerations as well as performance, medical support teams should know how to approach elite athletes who seek to achieve an unrealistic body composition and how to prevent restrictive eating practices from developing into an ED. In addition, these teams must know when to raise the alarm and how to advice athletes who are affected by extreme dieting or clinical EDs. However, there is no consensus on when athletes struggling with extreme dieting or EDs should be referred for specialist medical treatment or removed from competition. Based on the present review, we conclude that there is a need for (1) sport-specific and gender-specific preventive programmes, (2) criteria for raising alarm and ‘does not start’ (DNS) for athletes with EDs and (3) modifications to the regulations in some sports. Further, the key areas for research identified include the development of standard methods for body composition assessment in elite athletes; screening measures for EDs among athletes; development and testing of prevention programmes; investigating the short and long-term effects of extreme dieting; and EDs on health and performance.

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Authors
Sundgot-Borgen, J., Meyer, N. L., Lohman, T. G., Ackland, T. R., Maughan, R. J., Stewart, A. D., & Müller, W.
Affiliations
  • Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NO)
  • United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (US)
  • University of Arizona (US)
  • Loughborough University (GB)
  • Robert Gordon University (GB)
  • Medical University of Graz (AT)
Corresponding author
Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2013-10-10
Volume
47
Issue
16
Pages
1012-1022
ISSN
  • 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
  • 1473-0480
DOI
10.1136/bjsports-2013-092966
OpenAlex
W2099482337
Cited by
368
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 3
FWCI
20.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
International Olympic Committee
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Doping in Sports
Keywords
eating disorders, extreme dieting, body composition, athletes, body weight, body fat percentage, restrictive eating, prevention programmes, screening, sports regulation, body composition assessment
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Body Composition, Body Weight, Child, Feeding Behavior, Health Status, Humans, Patient Education as Topic, Primary Prevention, Sports, Sports Medicine, Weight Loss, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Risk Reduction Behavior, Early Diagnosis, Athletic Performance, Secondary Prevention

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