Eating attitudes among different types of sports in Hong Kong Athletes: A notably high prevalence of disordered eating observed among Wushu athletes

Abstract Introduction: Wushu, as a competitive sport, integrates both martial arts techniques and philosophical principles. It demands precision, discipline, and frequently strict weight management, which can impose particular challenges on athletes and increase their susceptibility to unhealthy eating behaviors. However, the current research on the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) among Wushu athletes is still limited. Objective: To determine the prevalences of body dissatisfaction, distorted body image and DEBs among Hong Kong Chinese athletes across various sports disciplines and also explore the relationships between variables related to body image. Subjects: 100 Hong Kong Chinese athletes. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Results: Our findings reveal that the prevalence of disordered eating among the Hong Kong Chinese athletes was 4.0%, based on EAT-26 scores (EAT-26 ≥ 20), which appears to be comparatively lower than global averages. Notably, Wushu athletes exhibited a 15.3% prevalence of being at risk for disordered eating, with 25% of females and 11% of males. Furthermore, within this group, Wushu athletes recorded the highest mean EAT-26 scores (10.92 ± 12.40; p = 0.046) and showed elevated scores across its subscales in comparison to participants from other sports disciplines. Wushu athletes also demonstrated notably elevated body dissatisfaction (BD) levels, with an average BD score of 1.23 ± 1.24, highlighting their desire to achieve a thinner physique. In comparison to other athletes, Wushu practitioners may face a higher risk of developing DEBs. The findings might highlight the need to introduce suitable educational strategies tailored to their requirements. Level of Evidence: Level V, Descriptive Study.