The goal of the present study was to analyze the effects of mood state on inappropriate eating behavior (IEB) of athletes. The participants were 68 female track and field athletes, with ages between 12 and 17 years. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) were used to evaluate the IEB and total mood disturbance (TMD), respectively. Two linear regression models indicated no statistically significant influence of BRUMS on Diet (p = 0,42) and on the Bulimia and Food Preoccupation (p = 0,81) subscales of the EAT-26. Rather, BRUMS (p = 0,04) showed a significant impact (7%) on Oral Selfconttrol subscale scores. It was concluded that athletes with high TMD might be more susceptible to environmental influence upon food intake.
change in mood; eating disorders; female athletes; track and field
