To assess athletic trainers' perceptions and knowledge regarding disordered eating behaviors and to estimate their confidence in response to a test of knowledge, a cross-sectional mail survey was distributed to a national random sample of 500 athletic trainers from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 408 collegiate certified athletic trainers responded (rate of 81.6%). A 30-item questionnaire assessed perceptions of disordered eating behaviors within 5 domains. Opinions regarding the prevalence of disordered eating, athletic injury and nutritional status, and their role in recognizing disordered eating were assessed. Most respondents reported perceiving disordered eating to be a significant problem. Also, athletic trainers needed knowledge in all domains of disordered eating.
