Body image concerns among individuals with different levels of sporting engagement and exercise: a longitudinal study

This longitudinal study examined whether body image concerns (general; sporting) predicted eating disorder psychopathology, and whether the link differed according to nature of sport engagement. Participants were competitive sports engagers, non-competitive sports engagers, or sports non-engagers. At baseline, 510 adults completed online measures of sports demographics, eating psychopathology and body image. Eating psychopathology and body image measures were taken at follow-up (6 months later). Competitive sports engagers had better body image than the other two groups. Poorer body appreciation and better appearance-related body image predicted higher eating disorder psychopathology. Engaging in sports competitively may be beneficial for body image. However, positive appearance-related sporting body image may pose a risk for later eating psychopathology.