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      Body image amongst elite rugby union players.

      Gibson, Claire; Hindle, Chloe; McLay-Cooke, Rebecca; Slater, Joanne; Brown, Rachel; Smith, Tiaki Brett; Baker, Dane; Healy, Philip; Black, Katherine
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      Body image and elite rugby.pdf
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      DOI
       10.1519/jsc.0000000000002312
      Link
       journals.lww.com
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      Gibson, C., Hindle, C., McLay-Cooke, R., Slater, J., Brown, R., Smith, T. B., … Black, K. (2017). Body image amongst elite rugby union players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000002312
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/11837
      Abstract
      There is limited information on the risk of eating disorders and body image of elite male athletes. However, research suggests there are some athletes who have poor body image and they may be at increased risk of developing eating disorders. Therefore, the current study investigated risk of eating disorders, body image, and the relationship with age, in elite rugby union players during their pre-season training period. This cross-sectional study was undertaken at the start of the pre-season amongst elite rugby union players in New Zealand. Twenty-six professional rugby union players completed a 49-item questionnaire on body image and disordered eating. A ‘body image score’ was calculated from questionnaire subscales including ‘drive for thinness’, ‘bulimia’ and ‘body dissatisfaction’, with total scores above twenty indicative of poor body image. Body image scores varied from 8-39 out of a possible 0-100. Disordered eating behaviours were reported, including binge eating at least once a week (15%, n=4/26), pathogenic weight control use (4%, n=1/26) and avoidance of certain foods (77%, n=20/26). There was a statistically significant inverse association between the bulimia subscale and age (P = 0.034). At the start of the pre-season training period, many elite rugby union players experience disturbances in body image. The prevalence of disordered eating behaviours is of concern, and needs to be minimised due to the negative impact on health and performance. A focus on assessment and education of younger male rugby players may be required in order to reduce disordered eating patterns.
      Date
      2017
      Type
      Journal Article
      Publisher
      Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
      Rights
      This is an author’s accepted version of an article published in the journal: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. © 2018 by the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
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      • Health, Sport and Human Performance Papers [125]
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