Determinants of Restrictive Dietary Behaviors among Female High School Athletes

Objectives: This study assessed the determinants of intention to adopt restrictive dietary behaviors to lose weight among high school female athletes. Methods: Female athletes (N = 255) and non-athlete controls (N = 91) completed a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior. Results: Intention to adopt restrictive dietary behaviors to lose weight, which had a prevalence of 22%-29% among athletes and controls, was correlated primarily with attitude towards this behavior (R² = 45%, p < .0001). Attitude was in turn correlated with improvement in appearance (R² = 37%, p < .0001). Conclusions: Improvement in appearance is a key belief to address in interventions aimed at decreasing the intention to use restrictive dietary behaviors to lose weight among adolescent female athletes.