A systematic review of the prevalence of disordered eating in fitness professionals

Disordered eating (DE) is becoming increasingly prevalent, and fitness professionals may be at elevated risk due to profession-specific pressures such as increased physique-focus and emphasis on exercise. This review aimed to synthesise existing evidence surrounding the prevalence of DE amongst fitness professionals. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) process. The databases Ovid (EMBASE, MEDLine, PsycINFO), CINAHL, Prospero, Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest were searched for studies published between 2004 and 2024. Studies were included if they assessed for DE in fitness professionals using a DE assessment instrument with specific cut-off scores. A total of nine studies, represented in 14 articles were included in the review. High levels of DE were evident amongst fitness professionals (personal trainers, group fitness instructors). Personal trainers exhibited higher rates compared to other fitness professionals, whilst high-performance coaches showed the lowest. Methodological inconsistencies, such as variation in assessment tools and small sample sizes reduce the generalisability of findings. However, findings suggest that DE is a concern amongst fitness professionals and should be addressed by appropriate education and screening programmes. • Fitness professionals show high rates of DE and this prevalence varies by role. • Methodological inconsistencies limit the generalisability of the findings of this review. • High levels of disordered eating suggest a need for targeted education and screening programs to assess DE amongst fitness professionals.