Context: Collegiate female distance runners may be at risk for low energy availability (LEA) due to increased exercise energy expenditure with or without decreased energy intake. Furthermore, this population has increased risk of disordered eating (DE), which can lead to LEA and negative health consequences, such as menstrual dysfunction (MD).
Objective: 1) investigate risk of LEA and DE, 2) compare DE, training volume, and weight dissatisfaction among female collegiate runners at risk vs not at risk for LEA, and 3) compare risk for LEA between NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) Division I, II, and III female collegiate runners.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Free-living.
Patients or other participants: Female runners (n = 287) who competed on an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) Division I, II, or III cross-country and/or track team.
Main outcome measure(s): A 45 question questionnaire was completed which included the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) and the Disordered Eating Screening Assessment (DESA-6).
Results: 54.5% (n = 156) of runners were at risk for LEA (score ≥ 8 on LEAF-Q), and 40.8% (n = 117) were at risk for DE (DESA-6 score ≥ 3), and 56.5% (n = 162) reported MD (LEAF-Q subsection MD score ≥ 4). Athletes "at risk" for LEA had significantly higher DESA-6 scores than athletes "not at risk" for LEA (p < 0.001). Athletes "at risk" for LEA had significantly greater weight dissatisfaction than those not at risk for LEA (X23, 156 = 15.92, p = 0.001). Higher weekly training volumes was not associated with risk for LEA (X22, 156 = 4.20, p = 0.112).
Conclusions: A substantial percentage of collegiate female runners were found to be at risk for LEA, DE, and report MD. These findings demonstrate that risk for DE, MD, and weight dissatisfaction are associated with risk for LEA.
Keywords: collegiate runners; disordered eating; low energy availability; menstrual dysfunction.