Sport-Specific Factors and Values Leading to Normalisation of Disordered Eating Behaviours in Elite Sport: A Scoping Review.

Authors

Danielle Mercado, Olivia Howe, Laurence Claes, Silvia Camporesi

Published in

European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association. Aug 16, 2026. Epub Aug 16, 2026.

Abstract

Disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) can be normalised by elite sports values and norms, obscuring risk for DEBs.
This scoping review mapped (1) how DEBs are conceptualised in elite sport, (2) the values, norms, and institutional mechanisms that normalise them, and (3) the barriers that obstruct recognition and care.
The search was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist, encompassing eight databases with no date limits. A protocol was registered; 3497 records were screened (1153 duplicates were removed), 283 full texts were reviewed, and 128 studies were included.
Study designs are largely crosssectional, based on self-report, and variably specific to particular sports. (1) DEBs are framed as a continuum ranging from functional practices to pathology, with tipping points linked to seasonality, injury and selection processes. (2) Normalisation mechanisms of DEBs stem from sports-specific values and norms, constituting an elite sporting ethic, body ideals, coach/team culture, institutional surveillance and public/media scrutiny. (3) Barriers for assessment and help-seeking include the moralisation of restrictive behaviours, stigma, 'toughness' norms, knowledge gaps, coach gatekeeping, organisational constraints and gendered assumptions.
System-level safeguards are needed and athlete-centred, protective initiatives should be prioritised over performance-oriented outcomes. Future research should prioritise longitudinal designs, elite sports-sensitive measures, and equity-oriented sampling.

PMID:
42604599
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 17 Aug 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.