DISORDERED EATING: PREVALENCE IN SPORTS AND ORAL MANIFESTATIONS: A REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to compare recent studies and to describe the presence of disordered eating, its complications, and oral erosive manifestations in athletes and normal subjects. Caloric restriction caused by diet or excessive exercise is an increasing trend and has significant health consequences. Disordered eating can lead to adverse effects on health and physical performance. Several personality characteristics have been claimed to be associated both with eating disorders and sport participation: competitiveness, concern about performance, body shape and perfectionism. Although eating disorders are mostly diagnosed in women, their prevalence among males is thought to have been increasing in recent years (e.g. body builders, weight lifters). But also non-professional performers of sports emphasizing thinness or muscularity, show a high degree of inappropriate eating behaviors. Many studies reported higher prevalence of disordered eating in athletes and in women, other studies, in contrast, found no significant differences between athletes and controls. This heterogeneity of the studies was the reason for this review. The major intention was to focus on the high-risk groups for disordered eating, and to outline oral complications affecting the hard (dental erosion) and soft tissues. Athletes are at greater risk of dental caries, dental erosion and traumatic injuries. The level of oral health is often described as poor. Possible causes include the diet/disordered eating, consumption of carbonated beverages, lemon, and sports drinks, decreased salivary flow during exercise, exercise-induced immune suppression.