Is running an analog of anorexia?: A survey of the incidence of eating disorders in female distance runners.

We used the Eating Attitudes Test and Eating Disorder Inventory as a measure of the incidence of anorexia nervosa in 125 female distance runners. The incidence of normal eating attitudes symptomatic of anorexia nervosa was 14% (18 runners). Of these, only five runners (4%) also had a low body mass and a past history of amenorrhea and only one subject (0.8%) had been treated for anorexia nervosa. Three of these five runners (60%) were elite marathon runners and one a highly ranked track athlete. The low incidence of anorexia nervosa in the total group does not support the Yates hypothesis that running is an analog of anorexia nervosa and therefore attracts persons with an anorexic personality. However, the study does show that it is the better athletes who are more likely to exhibit the physical and psychological features of anorexia nervosa.