Gonzalez, Adela2019-08-222019-08-222001-05-012013-12-13https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/28996Objective: Determine the prevalence of weight loss behaviors used by male jockeys to make and maintain weight. Design: An original survey instrument was developed. The pilot study was distributed in a random, anonymous manner. Setting: Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, Texas and Sunland Park, Sunland Park, New Mexico in December 2000 and January 2001 meetings respectively. Subjects: Twenty-nine male jockeys with a mean age of 34 years and mean racing career of 14 years. Mean weight was 116 pounds, mean height was 66 inches and mean body mass index was 19.6 kg/m2. Twelve jockeys were from Lone Star Park and 17 were from Sunland Park. No female jockeys participated. Results: SPSS Version 10.0 was used for data analysis. The prevalence of current usage of methods to make and maintain weight among the jockeys was 62%. The hot box was used by 85%, diuretics and semi-starvation were each used by 60%, excessive exercise 45% and flipping by 15%. The average number of methods used was 3. The hot box was the primary method used. Two of 20 jockeys felt they had an eating disorder. Conclusion: The prevalence of disordered eating behaviors among male horse jockeys is greater than that for the general male population. Their low mean body mass index may reflect a malnourished state. Pathological eating behaviors can result in a myriad of clinical abnormalities that can be deleterious to a jockey’s health and athletic performance. A national study of jockeys’ methods to make and maintain weight is recommended. Key Words: Eating disorder – disordered eating – weight-loss – athlete – jockeyapplication/pdfenBehavioral Disciplines and ActivitiesBehavior and Behavior MechanismsExercise ScienceKinesiologyMedicine and Health SciencesMental and Social HealthOccupational Health and Industrial HygieneOther Mental and Social HealthOther Psychiatry and PsychologyOther Public HealthPsychiatry and PsychologyPublic HealthSocial and Behavioral SciencesSports SciencesWeight loss behaviorsmale horse jockeysweight maintenanceLone Star ParkGrand PrairieTexasSunland ParkNew Mexicodisordered eating behavioreating disorderweight lossathletejockeyThesis