Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine individual and combined Female Athlete Triad components within collegiate cheerleaders, an at-risk group. Cheerleaders (n = 19; age: 20.3 ± 1.2 years) completed anthropometric measurements, health history questionnaires, resting metabolic rate, the eating disorder inventory-3 and symptom checklist, blood sample, and DXA scan. Participants completed dietary and exercise logs for 7 days and used heart rate monitors to track daily and exercise energy expenditure. Proportions were calculated for low energy availability (LEA) risk, disordered eating risk, and pathogenic behaviors. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the difference between cheerleaders who experience low EA with or without disordered eating risk. All cheerleaders demonstrated LEA for the days they participated in cheerleading practice, 52.6% demonstrated LEA with eating disorder risk and 47.4% demonstrated LEA without eating disorder risk, 52.6% self-reported menstrual dysfunction, 14% experienced menstrual dysfunction via hormonal assessment, and 0% demonstrated low bone mineral density. Overall, 47.7% presented with one Triad component, 52.6% demonstrated two Triad components using self-reported menstrual data, and 10.5% demonstrated two Triad components using hormonal assessments. All cheerleaders displayed LEA. These findings support the need for increased education on the individual components of the Triad and their potential consequences by qualified personal.
Highlights
Over the last two decades, competitive cheerleading has grown in popularity as a sport in both the adolescent and college aged populations, with estimates suggesting over a million annual participants [1,2]
Competitive cheerleading is comparable in athletic demand to sports such as ballet, swimming, diving, figure skating, and gymnastics [3,4] cheerleaders are at risk of suffering from components of the Triad due to the emphasis on physical appearance, lean body shape, low body weight, and on elite athletic ability [1,2]
Our findings suggest competitive cheerleaders are at risk for Triad components
Summary
Over the last two decades, competitive cheerleading has grown in popularity as a sport in both the adolescent and college aged populations, with estimates suggesting over a million annual participants [1,2] This growth is a result of a transition from the previous role of cheerleaders who statically stood on the sidelines of sporting events promoting crowd involvement, to the dynamic and engaging sport that places an emphasis on athletic and acrobatic skills. Due to this increase in full body, high intensity, athletic demands, competitive cheerleading is comparable to other sports such as gymnastics, ballet, swimming, and diving.
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