Regular Article

Participation in aesthetic sports and girls' weight concerns at ages 5 and 7 years

  1. Kirsten Krahnstoever Davison1,*,
  2. Mandy B. Earnest2,
  3. Leann L. Birch1

Article first published online: 14 MAR 2002

DOI: 10.1002/eat.10043

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 31, Issue 3, pages 312–317, April 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Davison, K. K., Earnest, M. B. and Birch, L. L. (2002), Participation in aesthetic sports and girls' weight concerns at ages 5 and 7 years. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 31: 312–317. doi: 10.1002/eat.10043

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

  2. 2

    Miami University of Ohio, Department of Physical Education, Health, and Sports Studies Oxford, Ohio

*Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, 110 Henderson Building South, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802. Fax: 814-863-6207

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 MAR 2002
  2. Article first published online: 14 MAR 2002
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 NOV 2001

Funded by

  • National Institutes of Health. Grant Number: #RO1 HD 32973

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Keywords:

  • aesthetic sports;
  • young girls;
  • weight concerns;
  • body shape

Abstract

Objective

The relationship between participation in aesthetic, or appearance-oriented, sports and weight concerns was assessed among young girls.

Method

Participants were part of a larger longitudinal study and included 197 and 192 girls and their mothers when girls were 5 and 7 years, respectively. At each age, girls' weight concerns and sport participation were assessed and girls were classified as participating in aesthetic sports (dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, baton twirling, swimming, aerobics, figure skating), non-aesthetic sports (volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, hockey, tennis, martial arts, track) or no sports.

Results

Girls in the aesthetic sport group reported higher weight concerns than girls in the nonaesthetic and no sport groups at ages 5 and 7 years. In addition, girls participating in aesthetic sports at ages 5 and 7 years reported the highest weight concerns at age 7.

Discussion

Participation in aesthetic, or appearance-oriented, sports may foster a heightened focus on weight and body shape among girls. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord XX: 312–317, 2002; DOI 10.1002/eat.10043

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