Background: COVID-19 has significantly disrupted the routines of school sports for adolescent athletes, which can affect their usual eating behaviors and body image. Specific pressures of individual sports (e.g., strict weight requirements, revealing sports attire, aesthetic judgments), vs. team sports, may further increase the risk of eating disorders (ED) and distorted body image. Methods: Participants of the study included 124 Iranian male adolescent athletes residing in Mazandaran province (one of the most affected areas of Iran during COVID-19), who played in 1 of 6 sports (3 individual, 3 team). ED symptoms were assessed by the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and body image was assessed by the Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA). Results: The individual athlete group (n = 62) had significantly higher EAT-26 subscale scores for Bulimia and Food Preoccupation (p=0.019), as well as significantly higher BESAA subscale scores for Appearance (p =0.001), Weight (p = 0.001), and Attribution (p = 0.001), compared to the team athlete group (n = 62). Conclusions: The study has limitations which future research should address. However, findings suggest that coaches should pay special attention to individual athletes with ED and distorted body image during COVID-19, to provide early intervention, and mitigate the risk of long-term consequences.
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