categories from separate studies difficult (Hausenblas & Carron, 2002). There is also

little theoretical basis for the category breakdowns, and arbitrarily placing sports in

categories may not reveal useful or valid results (Hausenblas & Carron). Also, most

classification systems do not take into account sport-specific demands. For example,

figure skating and wrestling are often placed in the same category because of the

importance both sports place on thinness. However, wrestlers try to "make weight" while

figure skaters try to look appealing. To overcome the limitations of the sport

classification systems, Hausenblas and Carron recommended examining large samples of

individual sports as opposed to combining small samples of multiple sports. They note

however, that it is a challenge for researchers to have a large enough sample size of a

single sport.

 A fifth limitation of the literature is that few researchers have examined

differences in eating disorder syptomotology longitudinally (Hausenblas & Carron,

1999). If athletes that are predispositioned to developing eating disorders gravitate

towards certain types of sports then the disordered eating behavior should not vary

throughout the year. However, if participation in certain sports causes disordered eating,

then the time at which measures are taken is important. For example, disordered eating

may increase from the off-season to the competitive season because athletes may feel

more pressure to be thin and win, especially before competitions.

 Only one study has investigated eating behaviors in athletes longitudinally. Dale

and Landers (1999) examined the eating behaviors of junior high and high school

wrestlers during the season versus the off-season. The disordered eating behavior was

examined once during the season and once during the off-season. No differences were