Risks for eating disorder in ultra-endurance athletes and the role of training volume: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Characterized by prolonged physical activity, ultra-endurance sports (UES) have attracted increasing popularity. Though moderate exercise can confer mental health benefits, the effects of extreme training volumes remain unclear. Instead, emerging research suggests a link between high training loads and increased psychiatric vulnerabilities, including for eating disorders (ED). Consequently, this study aimed to investigate trends in ED risk in a sample of ultra-endurance athletes (UEA) and the relationship to training volumes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered among UEA using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), alongside gathering demographic data and information on training hours. Athletes were categorized into three training volume groups: <10 h, 10-20 h, and >20 h per week. Statistical tests, including ANOVA, Mann-Whitney Results: Of the Conclusion: There was a significant association between high training volumes and increased ED risk among this UEA sample, suggesting a need for greater awareness of psychiatric vulnerabilities in endurance athletes. Given the growing popularity of UES, better education on the risks associated with high training volumes may be necessary to promote healthier training practices, underpinned by further research into its physiological and psychological consequences.