Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, and Menstrual Dysfunction in Female Recreational Runners
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Event Website
https://source2022.sched.com/
Start Date
18-5-2022
End Date
18-5-2022
Keywords
Low energy availability, disordered eating, recreational runners
Abstract
Running is characterized by high physiological demands with an emphasis on weight, which may lead to a greater risk of developing low energy availability (LEA) and or disordered eating (DE). Recreational runners are a population that is often overlooked due to a lack of resources readily available to them such as registered dietitians, physicians, and therapists. Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence of menstrual dysfunction, risk of DE and LEA. Methods: Female recreational runners (n= 2,434) running a minimum of 21 miles a week completed an online questionnaire that included the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) (occurrence of stress fractures, menstrual function, contraceptive use, and gastrointestinal function) to evaluate LEA risk, and the Disordered Eating Screening Assessment (DESA-6) (weight control methods, weight satisfaction, and self-reported diagnosis of eating disorders (ED)/DE) to evaluate DE risk. Chi-square tests analyzed the presence or history of an ED and menstrual function. Results: 55% of participants are at risk for LEA based on a score of > 8 on the LEAF-Q, 39% are at risk for DE based on a score of >3 on the DESA-6, and 30% reported menstrual dysfunction. Conclusion: Female recreational runners have a high risk for LEA and DE. Furthermore, recreational athletes may not receive the needed treatment due to a lack of resources available to them. These results reinforce the need for further education and preventative measures around LEA and DE amongst recreational female runners.
Recommended Citation
Miles, Marissa, "Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, and Menstrual Dysfunction in Female Recreational Runners" (2022). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 45.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/CEPS/45
Department/Program
Food Science and Nutrition
Additional Mentoring Department
Food Science and Nutrition
Additional Mentoring Department
Exercise Science
Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, and Menstrual Dysfunction in Female Recreational Runners
Running is characterized by high physiological demands with an emphasis on weight, which may lead to a greater risk of developing low energy availability (LEA) and or disordered eating (DE). Recreational runners are a population that is often overlooked due to a lack of resources readily available to them such as registered dietitians, physicians, and therapists. Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence of menstrual dysfunction, risk of DE and LEA. Methods: Female recreational runners (n= 2,434) running a minimum of 21 miles a week completed an online questionnaire that included the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) (occurrence of stress fractures, menstrual function, contraceptive use, and gastrointestinal function) to evaluate LEA risk, and the Disordered Eating Screening Assessment (DESA-6) (weight control methods, weight satisfaction, and self-reported diagnosis of eating disorders (ED)/DE) to evaluate DE risk. Chi-square tests analyzed the presence or history of an ED and menstrual function. Results: 55% of participants are at risk for LEA based on a score of > 8 on the LEAF-Q, 39% are at risk for DE based on a score of >3 on the DESA-6, and 30% reported menstrual dysfunction. Conclusion: Female recreational runners have a high risk for LEA and DE. Furthermore, recreational athletes may not receive the needed treatment due to a lack of resources available to them. These results reinforce the need for further education and preventative measures around LEA and DE amongst recreational female runners.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2022/CEPS/45
Faculty Mentor(s)
Abigail Larson, Kelly Pritchett, Robert Pritchett