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The Female Athlete Body Project II

Funding : NIH- NIMH 1 RO1 MH094448-01

March, 2012-February 2017

Given the cost of treating eating disorders (EDs) and the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with these disorders, prevention of EDs has considerable public health significance.  Research supports the use of a Healthy Weight (HW) program targeting small lifestyle modifications in the prevention of ED onset and in reducing ED risk factors. Research suggests that disordered eating among female athletes is prevalent, and is especially dangerous in female athletes because it increases risk for the Female Athlete Triad (i.e., low energy availability/disordered eating, menstrual disorders, and decreased bone mineral density/osteoporosis) and subsequent injury.  This study is a cluster randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the HW intervention among 500 collegiate female athletes in four sites.

 

Selected Presentations/Publications:

Stewart, T.M., Becker, C., Han, H., Jackson, H., & Plasencia, M. Moderators of two programs designed to reduce eating disorder risk factors in female athletes. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2013.

Becker, C., MacKenzie, K., & Stewart, T.M. (2013). Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches to the Prevention of Eating Disorders. In M. Levine & L. Smolak (Eds.), Handbook of Eating Disorders, Wiley-Blackwell. In press.

Becker, C., & Stewart, T.M. Improving body image and preventing eating disorders in female athletes: Problems & Promises. An invited oral presentation given at the Female Athlete conference: Strategies for Optimal Health & Performance, Boston, MA, June 2013.