Disordered Eating Predicts Mindful Eating Regardless of Sex and Disability Status: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Disordered eating and mindful eating are under-studied among athletes with disabilities; clarifying their interplay could inform potential prevention strategies. This study examined the relationship between disordered eating and mindful eating in athletes across different sexes and ability statuses, addressing the limited research in disabled populations. In this cross-sectional study, 140 Turkish athletes (70 with physical disabilities; 70 without) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and the 30-item Mindful Eating Questionnaire. Group differences, Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression were calculated. Global disordered-eating and mindful-eating scores did not differ by disability status or sex. Athletes with disabilities reported lower Emotional Eating (17.6 ± 4.7 vs. 19.4 ± 4.5; p = 0.023) and, among men, higher Mindfulness sub scores (16.0 ± 2.6 vs. 14.6 ± 2.7; p = 0.006). Mindful eating correlated inversely with disordered eating in both groups (with disabilities: r = -0.49, p < 0.001; without: r = -0.32, p = 0.014) and was strongest in women with disabilities (r = -0.76, p < 0.001). Disordered eating emerged as a significant predictor of lower mindful eating (β = -4.66, p < 0.001), explaining 1% of its variance after controlling for age, sex, body-mass index and disability status. Mindful eating is inversely associated with disordered eating across athletes, with the relationship particularly pronounced in women with disabilities. Interventions that cultivate mindful eating could be relevant for managing disordered eating in para-sport. This study explored the link between disordered eating and mindful eating in athletes with and without physical disabilities. A total of 140 Turkish athletes (70 with disabilities, 70 non-disabled athletes) completed questionnaires on their eating behaviours and mindfulness around food. The results showed that athletes with disabilities and non-disabled athletes had similar overall levels of disordered eating and mindful eating. However, athletes with disabilities reported less emotional eating, and men with disabilities reported being more mindful while eating compared to non-disabled men. Importantly, across all groups, higher mindful eating was linked to lower disordered eating. This association was strongest in women with disabilities, suggesting that mindfulness may be particularly protective for them. Further analysis confirmed that disordered eating was the main factor predicting lower mindful eating, regardless of age, sex, body mass index, or disability status. These findings highlight that promoting mindful eating may help reduce disordered eating behaviours in athletes with disabilities and non-disabled athletes. Interventions that teach athletes to pay closer attention to hunger, satiety, and emotional triggers around food could support healthier eating and mental well-being, especially in parasport.