Eating Disorders Among Female High School Athletes: The Questionable Effect of Self-Esteem

Authors

Janet Shumway, Brigham Young University
Dr. Mikaela Dufur, Brigham Young University

Keywords

eating disorders, female athletes, high school, bulimia, anorexia

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

Abstract

Millions of people in the United States suffer from serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa. More than 90 percent of those afflicted are young women. Researchers have studied eating disorders and the various factors leading to these behaviors, and a vast majority of these studies have indicated that self-esteem is a central factor in the development of bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Some studies indicate that selfesteem is the most important factor in the prediction of disordered eating. 1 Thus, adolescent women with low self-esteem are more inclined to develop eating disorder behaviors.

Recommended Citation

Shumway, Janet and Dufur, Dr. Mikaela (2013) "Eating Disorders Among Female High School Athletes: The Questionable Effect of Self-Esteem," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 584.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/584