Body composition assessment - considerations relating to disordered eating

These considerations have been developed to guide policy and practice within high performance sport in the area of body composition assessment and the specific considerations that arise in relation to disordered eating. They may be used as a reference for the development of minimum standards by National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) or adopted in full. It’s recommended that NSOs and National Institute Network (NIN) partners contemplate adopting these considerations.

While these considerations are specific to the assessment of body composition, the same principles should be considered when related assessment of athlete’s bodies are undertaken.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Monitoring changes in body mass to assess hydration themes
• Assessing power to weight ratios in strength testing
• Marking up for movement analysis

Overview

Assessments of body composition provide a useful tool to determine the impact of nutrition strategies and training interventions.

However, in particular athletes, such activities have the potential to cause harm. Protocols should be established and implemented before, during and after assessments of body composition to reduce this risk.

Resources and templates

• Disordered-eating-body-composition-considerations.pdf(PDF • 150.4 kb)