Title: Eating behavior patterns and concern about body image in athletes and non-athletes
Abstract: Introduction: The level of concern about body image could affect the control of dietary habits. Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between body image, and body and diet composition in amateur athletes and non-athletes. Materials and methods: Ninety-two people participated in the study, 68 males and 24 females, 42 athletes and 50 non-athletes. Body composition was assessed by skinfold measurements and BIA. Flexible and rigid eating strategies and concern about body shape were measured with FC12, RC16 and BSQ-8c respectively. In addition, diet composition was estimated with a three-day food diary. Results: Classification based on BMI showed that 4.8% of athletes were underweight, and 38.1% overweight-obese compared to 6% and 34% of non-athletes respectively. The classification according to fat percentage differentiated to 35.7% underfat and 9.5% overfat in athletes and 22% and 26% in non-athletes respectively. Moderate concern about body image expressed 11.9% of athletes and 26% of non-athletes, while marked concern only some non-athletes (4%). Moreover, the adoption of rules or behaviors that translate to flexibility or rigidity showed statistically significant co-linearity (p<0.01), however they did not equally contribute to body image concern. Conclusion: Νon-athletes showed a variety of flexibility regarding eating control, and greater and significant concern about their body image. Athletes demonstrated mostly high flexibility, though they frequently employed rigid strategies, especially men, empowering the corresponding body composition.