2012 January | Female Athlete Triad Coalition

Sponsors:

Silver Level:

“Relationships among injury and disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density in high school athletes: a prospective study”

Rauh MJ, Nichols JF, Barrack MT.

School of Exercise & Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, CA, USA. mrauh@rmuohp.edu

J Athl Train. 2010 May-Jun;45(3):243-52.

In this prospective study by Rauh and colleagues, the relationship among disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density (BMD) and musculoskeletal injury among girls in high school sports was evaluated. 163 female athletes from 8 sports completed daily injury reports, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) that assessed disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan that measured BMD and lean tissue mass, anthropometric measurements, and a questionnaire on menstrual history and demographic characteristics. 90 injuries occurred in 61 athletes (37.4%). Using a model with z score ≤ -1 SD, a history of oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea in the past year and low BMD were associated with the occurrence of musculoskeletal injury. Disordered eating (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire score ≥ 4.0), a history of oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea during the past year, and a low BMD were associated with musculoskeletal injury occurrence when using a z-score of of ≤ -2 SDs. This study further proves that this unhealthy Triad increased one’s risk of injury. This information can be used to further promote screening, prevention, and adequate treatment in at-risk female athletes.

Sponsors:

Silver Level:

Development and evaluation of an educational intervention program for pre-professional adolescent ballet dancers: nutrition for optimal performance.

Doyle-Lucas AF, Davy BM.

Department of Dance, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

J Dance Med Sci. 2011;15(2):65-75.

Prevention is the best treatment for the Triad and disordered eating. This purpose of this study by Doyle-Lucas and Davy was to develop, implement, and evaluate a theoretically based nutritional education intervention through a DVD lecture series (three 30-minute classes) in summer intensive programs for pre-professional, adolescent ballet dancers. The goals were to increase knowledge of basic sports nutrition principles and the Female Athlete Triad and promote self-efficacy for adopting healthier dietary habits. Dancers ranging from 13 to 18 years old who were attending summer intensive programs affiliated with professional ballet companies were recruited. Group One (n = 231) participated in the nutrition education program, while Group Two the control participants (n = 90) did not. Assessments of the participants’ dietary status consisted of a demographic questionnaire, a Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behavior Questionnaire, and a Food Frequency Questionnaire. The intervention group was assessed at baseline, immediately post-program, and at six weeks post-program. The control group was assessed at baseline and at six weeks post-baseline. The intervention program was effective at increasing nutrition knowledge, perceived susceptibility to the Female Athlete Triad, and self-efficacy constructs. Improvements in dietary intake were also observed among intervention group participants, which makes this a very promising educational tool. To improve overall health and performance nutrition education should be incorporated into the training regimens of adolescent dancers. This potentially replicable DVD-based program may be an effective, low-cost mechanism for doing that.

Sponsors:

Silver Level:

“Can we reduce eating disorder risk factors in female college athletes? A randomized exploratory investigation of two peer-led interventions.”

Becker CB, McDaniel L, Bull S, Powell M, McIntyre K.

Department of Psychology, Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200, United States.

This study was done to further investigate a crucial issue in the female athlete triad-that of education. Becker and colleagues evaluated whether two peer-led interventions could have a positive effect on athletes eating disorder (ED) risk factors. Athletes were randomly assigned to athlete-modified dissonance prevention or healthy weight intervention (AM-HWI). ED risk factors were assessed pre/post-treatment, and 6-week and 1-year follow-up. Results (analyzed sample, N=157) indicated that both interventions reduced thin-ideal internalization, dietary restraint, bulimic pathology, shape and weight concern, and negative affect at 6 weeks, and bulimic pathology, shape concern, and negative affect at 1 year. Unexpectedly we observed an increase in students spontaneously seeking medical consultation for the triad. Qualitative results suggested that AM-HWI may be more preferred by athletes.