Energy Balance, Eating Disorder Risk, and Pathogenic Behaviors Among Athletic Trainers.

CONTEXT: Research exists on energy balances (EBs) and eating disorder (ED) risks in physically active populations and occupations by settings, but the EB and ED risk in athletic trainers (ATs) have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To assess ATs' energy needs, including the macronutrient profile, and examine ED risk and pathogenic behavioral differences between sexes (men, women) and job statuses (part time or full time) and among settings (college or university, high school, nontraditional). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Free-living in job settings. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Athletic trainers (n = 46; male part-time graduate assistant ATs = 12, male full-time ATs = 11, female part-time graduate assistant ATs = 11, female full-time ATs = 12) in the southeastern United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Anthropometric measures (sex, age, height, weight, body composition), demographic characteristics (job status [full- or part-time AT], job setting [college/university, high school, nontraditional], years of AT experience, exercise background, alcohol use), resting metabolic rate, energy intake (EI), total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), exercise energy expenditure, EB, macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fats), the Eating Disorder Inventory-3, and the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 Symptom Checklist. RESULTS: The majority of participants (84.8%, n = 39) had an ED risk, with 26.1% (n = 12) engaging in at least 1 pathogenic behavior, 50% (n = 23) in 2 pathogenic behaviors, and 10.8% (n = 5) in >2 pathogenic behaviors. Also, 82.6% of ATs (n = 38) presented in negative EB (EI < TDEE). Differences were found in resting metabolic rate for sex and job status (F1,45 = 16.48, P = .001), EI (F1,45 = 12.01, P = .001), TDEE (F1,45 = 40.36, P < .001), and exercise energy expenditure (F1,38 = 5.353, P = .026). No differences were present in EB for sex and job status (F1,45 = 1.751, P = .193); χ2 analysis revealed no significant relationship between ATs' sex and EB ({\rm{\chi }}_{1,46}^2= 0.0, P = 1.00) and job status and EB ({\rm{\chi }}_{1,46}^2 = 2.42, P = .120). No significant relationship existed between Daily Reference Intakes recommendations for all macronutrients and sex or job status. CONCLUSIONS: These athletic trainers experienced negative EB, similar to other professionals in high-demand occupations. Regardless of sex or job status, ATs had a high ED risk and participated in unhealthy pathogenic behaviors. The physical and mental concerns associated with these findings indicate a need for interventions targeted at ATs' health behaviors.

Examination of Energy Balance, Eating Disorder Risk, and Pathogenic Behaviors among Athletic Trainers.

CONTEXT: Research exists on energy balance (EB) and eating disorder (ED) risk in physically active populations and occupations by settings, but EB and ED in athletic trainers (ATs) has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To assess ATs' energy needs, including macronutrient profile, and to examine ED risk and pathogenic behavior between sex (males, females), job status (part-time=PT-AT; full-time=FT-AT) and setting (college/university, high school, non-traditional). DESIGN: Cross-sectional and descriptive. SETTING: Free-living in job settings. PARTICIPANT: ATs (n=46; males PT-AT n=12, males FT-AT n=11; females PT-AT n=11, female FT-AT n=12) in Southeastern United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometric measurements (age, height, weight, body composition), resting metabolic rate (RMR), energy intake (EI), total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), exercise energy expenditure (EEE), EB, macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fats), Eating Disorder Inventory-3, and the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 Symptom Checklist. RESULTS: Majority (84.8%, n=39) had ED risk, with 26.1% (n=12) engaging in at least 1 pathogenic behavior, 50% (n=23) in 2 pathogenic behaviors, and 10.8% (n=5) in more than 2 pathogenic behaviors. 82.6% of ATs (n=38) presented in negative EB (EI