The Relationship Between Body Mass Index, Body Weight Perception, and Menstrual Cycle in Female Athletes

Abstract

Body mass index (BMI) has been used as a simple measure to assess levels of obesity in various populations. The accuracy of the formula has been questioned increasingly over the past years particularly as it relates to special populations such as children, elderly, and athletes. The relationship between this measurement and a female's perceived ideal body weight (P-IBW) has not been assessed in college-aged athletes, nor has it been correlated to the habits of one's menstrual cycle. PURPOSE: To identify the relationship between BMI, ideal body weight perception, and menstrual habits in college-aged athletes. METHODS: A convenient sample of 208 female student athletes (18-23, average 20.1 years) at a division one university took part in pre-participation physical examinations that included a medical history questionnaire. Height and weight measurements taken by certified athletic trainers, and answers to the questions completed by each student athlete pertaining to 1) what each person perceived as his/her ideal body weight, and 2) whether or not one was currently experiencing a normal menstrual cycle or not were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Differences were calculated between actual body weight (ABW) and P-IBW for all subjects (−6.2 lbs, range −48 to 22). Overall BMI measurements were recorded as 84.5% normal, 0.3% underweight, 15.1% over weight, and 0.1% obese. Twenty-one (10.0%) subjects reported an irregular and/or absent menstrual cycle, 25% of whom were considered over weight. Correlations were low for both subjects with normal BMI whose P-IBW was within 5 pounds of their ABW (r = .68) and those with normal BMI whose P-IBW was greater than 5 pounds (+/−) of their P-IBW (r = .71). CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not suggest a correlation between body mass index, actual and perceived body weight, and menstrual cycle patterns in collegeaged female student athletes.