All of these issues have been linked to eating disorders in athletes in the past decade. Regardless, one point still remains strong.
Female athletes are as vulnerable to developing eating disorders as non-athletes.
A major limitation of such research, however, has been its focus on White athletes. The primary purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of eating disorders among White, Hispanic and Black high school volleyball players. The participants in this investigation were 104 urban female volleyball athletes and 145 suburban female volleyball athletes from 16 high schools in six school districts in a large, ethnically diverse southern metropolitan city. Each high school granted approval, followed by informed consent from the coach and parent or legal guardian and family assent from the athlete. Students completed the questionnaire during an athletic practice session in the bleachers of the gymnasium.