Pathogenic Weight-Control Behaviors of Female College Gymnasts

Abstract

In brief: To study the methods and extent to which iemale college gymnasts diet, data were collected from 42 gymnasts aged 17 to 22 years, who represented five teams in a major athletic conference. The survey showed that (1) all the participants were dieting; (2) 26 were using at least one form of pathogenic weight-control behavior; and (3) 21 of the 28 competitors who were told by their coaches that they were too heavy resorted to using pathogenic weight-control behaviors. The authors discuss the implications of the demands of gymnastics and the additional social pressure to maintain exceptional thinness.