Hi,

Dr. Siobhan McArdle, Dublin City University, School of Health and Human Performance,is conducting a study exploring athlete’s willingness to seek help for disordered eating. The study entails completing a short online questionnaire (link below), which asks questions designed to try and understand why athletes may be reluctant to seek help for disordered eating behaviour. The purpose of this research/questionnaire is not to identify individuals with eating disorders. Rather, it is to gather insight into some of the barriers that might exist to seeking help if an athlete did develop an eating disorder. It is hoped that the findings from this study will be used to inform and improve support services for athletes.

If your triathlon club is interested in participating in this study, could you please forward this email, which contains the link to the online questionnaire, to your members. Thank You.

I. Background to the research

Research suggests prevalence rates of disordered eating amongst athletes as high as 62% among female athletes and as high as 33% among male athletes.

Disordered eating in athletes is characterized by a number of maladaptive eating and weight control behaviours. Susceptibility of athletes to disordered eating is a serious concern because of the physical demands of sport involvement and because of the long-term physical and psychological effects of disordered eating. It is hoped that the results from this study will be used to try and create better education and support services for athletes. NGBs and athletes who participate in the study will receive a summary of the results after the study is completed.

II. Details of what involvement in the Research Study will require

We hope to recruit athletes aged 18 years and older from a number of different sports to participate in this study. Athletes will be asked to complete a short on-line confidential questionnaire. The questionnaire explores two areas 1) understanding of eating disorders and 2)perceived barriers to seeking help for disordered eating. The questionnaire does not try to identify whether the athlete does or does not have an eating disorder.

To access the online questionnaire please click on the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=o4zV08JKOGjzusdJCZiC6g_3d_3d

III. Potential risks to participants from involvement in the Research Study

There are no foreseeable risks in participating in this study. To learn more about eating disorders or to receive support for disordered eating behavior, the following are links to available support services.

> http://www.eatingdisorders.ie/ (information on eating disorders,

> support/treatment:Republic

of Ireland)

> http://www.bodywhys.ie/ (information on eating disorders, support/treatment:

Republic of Ireland)

> www.eatingdisordersnetwork.com (information on eating disorders,

support/treatment: Northern Ireland)

> http://www.b-eat.co.uk/Home (information on eating disorders,

> support/treatment:Northern

Ireland)

> http://www.sheenasplace.org/ (information on eating disorders, how to

> help

friends or family with eating disorders)

IV. The athlete’s identity, or other personal information, will not be revealed or published. Participants will be assigned an ID number under which all personal information will be stored in a secure file and saved in password protected file in a computer at DCU. The investigators alone will have access to the data. Confidentiality of information provided can only be protected within the limitations of the law. It is possible for data to be subject to subpoena, freedom of information claim or mandated reporting by some professions.

V. Data will be stored for 12-months following the completion of the project, in line with University regulations for examinations. The data will be destroyed by the principal investigator.

VI. Involvement in this research study is voluntary. Participants may withdraw from the study at any point by contacting Brona Furlong, the research assistant on the project at brona.furlong2@mail.dcu.ie. There will be no penalty for withdrawing before all stages of the study are completed.

If participants have concerns about this study and wish to contact an independent person, please contact:

The Secretary,

Dublin City University Research Ethics Committee, c/o Office of the Vice-President for Research, Dublin City University, Dublin 9.

Tel 01-7008000

Thank you for considering participation in our study.