A Five-Year Comparison of High-Risk Behaviors in Collegiate Recreation: Overtraining and Eating Disorders—An Exploratory Study. Issue 1 (April 2017) - Shepard, Adrian A.
College students are at a higher risk for developing body image issues than any other age group (Attwood, 2012). However, empirical research focused on high-risk behaviors in collegiate recreation (CR) is lacking. Therefore, this study served as follow-up to the Shepard, Barnes, Click, and Peden (2011) seminal research which centered on overtraining (over exercise) and eating disorders in CR. A random sample ( N = 71) of National Intramural and Recreational Sports (NIRSA) fitness and wellness professionals from CR departments across North America participated in the 2016 study compared with 128 participants in 2011. Statistical significance testing ( p < .05) indicated that the difference in sample size between the two studies was not significant. Ninety-four percent of CR professionals agreed or strongly agreed that having NIRSA supported best practices for addressing overtraining would be helpful compared with 96% in 2011. Similarly, 92% of CR professionals agreed or strongly agreed that NIRSA supported best practices for eating disorders would be helpful compared with 96% in 2011. Additional findings are discussed. Recommendations are provided and meant to serve as a foundation for development of best practices between NIRSA and other professional organizations.