CHANGES IN EATING BEHAVIORS AND MENSTRUAL FUNCTION OF FEMALE COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Abstract

It has been hypothesized that factors inherent in the sport setting place an athlete at risk for disordered eating and menstrual dysfunction. PURPOSE This longitudinal study examined changes in eating behaviors and menstrual function over 3 y in 41 female collegiate athletes representing 8 sports. METHODS Disordered eating and menstrual dysfunction were assessed by a health, weight, dieting, and menstrual history questionnaire administered during the preparticipation physicals. RESULTS Thirty nine percent (n=16) of the athletes reported an increase or persistence in menstrual cycle irregularity over the 3 y. The overall incidence of amenorrhea increased (P< 0.05), with 4 remaining amenorrheic and 4 athletes developing amenorrhea over the 3 y. Only 1 amenorrheic athlete became eumenorrheic. Thirty nine percent (n=16) of the athletes reported a stress fracture over the 3 y. A significant number (n=12) of those who suffered stress fractures reported amenorrhea at the time of, or the year preceding the fracture (P<0.05). None of the athletes reported a clinical diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Of athletes reporting they “might have” an eating disorder (n=6), 2 reported an improvement in their condition, while 4 reported a worsening or no change over the 3 y. Use of pathogenic weight control methods ranged from 2–42%. Few athletes reported an increase in the use of pathogenic weight control methods over the 3 y, and there was no identifiable relationship between the use of these methods and net weight change. Twenty-two percent (n=9) of athletes reported an increase in dietary restraint, while 29% (n=12) and 19% (n=8) reported a decrease or variable changes, respectively over the 3 y. CONCLUSION Participation in collegiate athletics may increase the risk of menstrual dysfunction (and accompanying stress fractures), while the association with disordered eating is more variable and, thus, no clear pattern could be identified.