The relationship between eating disorders, amenorrhea and body satisfaction in middle aged athlete and non-athlete females

Aging in women and the incidence of amenorrhea can lead to eating disorders, obesity and dissatisfaction of their body shape. A total of 434 (108 athletes; BMI: 28.27±2.41, and 326 non-athletes; BMI: 35.11±4.13) Iranian women between 35-50 years old, participated in this study. The data were collected via a package that was consisted of questionnaires involving demographic, athletic history, menstrual pattern, eating attitude test-26, (The EAT-26 questionnaire) and female body image scale. The body mass index (BMI) was measured to compare actual, perceived and ideal body sizes Data were analyzed by Mann Whitney U and Spearman correlation. The finding showed that there was no significant difference between eating disorder and secondary amenorrhea between athlete and non-athlete groups; but there was significant difference between body dissatisfaction, social pressure to change weight and actual BMI between two groups (P<0.05). The most rate of body dissatisfaction and social pressure to change weight observed in non athletes women (P<0.05). In general, it seems that exercise can reduce eating disorders and body dissatisfaction or fitness contribute to increased performance.