Investigation of the relationship between exercise addiction and eating disorders in handball players

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between exercise addiction, eating disorders, and demographic characteristics of male and female handball players competing in the star, youth, and adult categories in Turkey. A total of 402 voluntary athletes, including 167 males and 235 females aged between 14 and 25, participated in the study. The Exercise Addiction Scale (EAS) was used to measure exercise addiction, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q-13) was used to assess eating disorder levels, and a demographic data form was also administered. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0 statistical analysis software. During analysis, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and regression techniques were employed. When the relationship between gender and exercise addiction was examined, a significantly higher level was found among female participants. A low positive correlation was found between exercise addiction and age, years of sports participation, and income level. Statistically significant differences were observed in relation to BMI, national team status, smoking habits, and educational level. A moderate to low positive correlation was found between exercise duration and exercise addiction. A low and insignificant positive correlation was found between meal frequency and exercise addiction. On the other hand, when the relationship between eating disorders and demographic characteristics was examined, a statistically significant relationship was found only in the purging subscale in relation to gender; no significant relationships were found in other subscales. When national team status and educational level were compared with eating disorders, it was found that national athletes had significantly higher mean scores than non-national athletes. No significant relationship was found between smoking, income level, and eating disorders. Statistically significant differences were found between BMI and eating disorders. A low positive significant relationship was found in the restricted eating and purging subscales in relation to age, but no significant relationships were found in the other subscales. A low positive correlation was found in the binge eating subscale with years of sports participation, while no significant relationships were found in the other subscales. A low positive correlation was found in the restricted eating subscale with exercise duration, but no significant correlations were found in the other subscales. A low and insignificant positive correlation was found between meal frequency and eating disorders. These findings emphasize the necessity of implementing targeted educational programs and increasing access to scientific knowledge for handball players regarding eating disorders and exercise addiction.