The Relationship Between Eating Attitude, Body Image Perception and Alexithymia Among Athletes

Objective: With the increasing competitiveness in sports, athletes are exposed to various negative factors affecting their physical and psychological health. This study aimed to examine whether eating attitude, body image perception, and alexithymia differ by age and gender among athletes, and to evaluate the relationships between these variables. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included athletes aged 14-40 years, who completed a data collection form in an outpatient clinic. The form included demographic information, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and the Body Image Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.23. Normality was assessed with Skewness and Kurtosis. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, Monte Carlo corrected chi-square, and Pearson correlation were performed. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 206 athletes (97 female (47.1%), 109 male (52.9%); 111 adolescents (53.9%), 95 adults (46.1%)) participated. Females scored lower on the 'body change' subscale of the Body Image Scale compared to males (p<0.05). Significant differences were found between adolescent and adult athletes regarding Toronto Alexithymia Scale scores, total Body Image Scale scores, and the subscales for 'negative perception of the body' and 'evaluation sensitivity' (p<0.05). The presence of alexithymia was associated with differences in body image perception (p<0.05). Alexithymia was found to be related to age and body image perception (p<0.05), and eating attitudes were also related to age and body image perception (p<0.05). Conclusion: From adolescence onwards, athletes should be monitored for deteriorations in body image perception and difficulties in emotional expression (development of alexithymia). Gender differences should also be considered in these follow-ups.