Prevalence of Low Energy Availability in Collegiate Women Soccer Athletes

Magee, Meghan K.; Lockard, B; Zabriskie, Hannah A.; Schaefer, Alexis; Luedke, Joel; Erickson, Jacob L.; Jones, Margaret; Jagim, Andrew R.

doi:10.3390/jfmk5040096

Cited by 37 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Prevalence of LEA among certain National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes has ranged from 41% in cross country runners [ 16 ] to 51% in track and field athletes [ 17 ]. Further, athletes competing in team field sports with a high aerobic component (i.e., soccer), tend to also be at a higher risk, likely due to the high activity energy expenditures [ 3 , 18 ] associated with the sport, with prevalence of LEA ranging from 11% [ 19 ] to 67% [ 18 ], depending upon the time point throughout the season (i.e., off-season vs. pre-season vs. in-season).…”

Section: Prevalence Of Low Energy Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributing Factors to Low Energy Availability in Female Athletes: A Narrative Review of Energy Availability, Training Demands, Nutrition Barriers, Body Image, and Disordered Eating

et al. 2022

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Relative Energy Deficiency in sport is experiencing remarkable popularity of late, particularly among female athletes. This condition is underpinned by low energy availability, which is a byproduct of high energy expenditure, inadequate energy intake, or a combination of the two. Several contributing factors exist that may predispose an athlete to low energy availability, and therefore a holistic and comprehensive assessment may be required to identify the root causes. The focus of the current narrative review is to discuss the primary contributing factors as well as known risk factors for low energy availability among female athletes to help practitioners increase awareness on the topic and identify future areas of focus.

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Section: Prevalence Of Low Energy Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributing Factors to Low Energy Availability in Female Athletes: A Narrative Review of Energy Availability, Training Demands, Nutrition Barriers, Body Image, and Disordered Eating

et al. 2022

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“…The Triad occurs in female high school, collegiate, and elite athletes [6,7]. In collegiate athletes, Triad components have the following prevalence estimates: Low EA (11.8-67%) [8,9], MI (16-36%) [8,[10][11][12][13], and low BMD (Z-score < −1) (1-3.5%) [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Female Athlete Triad Risk Factors among Female International Volunteers and College Age-Matched Controls

Freire

Brown

Fleischer

et al. 2022

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This study retrospectively compared the prevalence of factors related to the female athlete triad (low energy availability, secondary amenorrhea (SA), low bone mineral density (BMD)), and post-study BMD of female college students and female international volunteer missionaries (volunteers). Female college students (21–26 years) completed a survey that retrospectively assessed an 18-month study period (volunteer service or first 18 months of college); Diet History Questionnaire III (DHQ III) and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan were optional. One-way ANOVAs and chi-squared distributions assessed group differences. Logistic regression assessed covariates of SA and BMD; corresponding odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.001. 3683 participants (58.8% volunteers, 31.5% non-volunteers, 9.8% others) provided complete survey data; 246 completed the DHQ III, and 640 had a post-study DXA scan. Volunteers had higher metabolic equivalent (MET) hours than non-volunteers and others (p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of food insecurity (p < 0.001) and SA (p < 0.001). Volunteers had higher odds of SA (OR = 2.17, CI = 1.75–2.62) than non-volunteers. Weight loss, body satisfaction, “other” weight loss methods, increased MET hours, and vomiting during the study period increased participants’ odds of SA. Participants’ average BMD Z-scores were within the expected range at all sites, with no significant group differences. Volunteers’ higher MET hours and higher prevalence of food insecurity and SA did not result in significantly lower post-study period BMD.

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“…Previous research has demonstrated that collegiate women athletes specifically may have a misunderstanding of the advanced dietary requirements of their sport, which also appears to be accompanied by discrepancies between perceived dietary intakes and calculated dietary intakes [ 8 , 11 , 19 ]. Such a lack of sport nutrition knowledge in women athletes may be compounded with body image issues or a drive for thinness, likely underpinned by societal expectations or aesthetically influenced beliefs and ultimately conflating the issue of adequate fueling for their sport [ 8 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Sport Nutrition Knowledge on Body Composition and Perceptions of Dietary Requirements in Collegiate Athletes

et al. 2021

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Sport nutrition knowledge has been shown to influence dietary habits of athletes. The purpose of the current study was to examine relationships between sport nutrition knowledge and body composition and examine potential predictors of body weight goals in collegiate athletes. Participants included National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III women (n = 42, height: 169.9 ± 6.9 cm; body mass: 67.1 ± 8.6 kg; fat-free mass: 51.3 ± 6.6 kg; body fat per cent: 24.2 ± 5.3%) and men (n = 25, height: 180.8 ± 7.2 cm; body mass: 89.2 ± 20.5 kg; fat-free mass: 75.9 ± 12.2 kg; body fat per cent: 13.5 ± 8.9%) athletes. Body composition was assessed via air displacement plethysmography. Athletes completed a validated questionnaire designed to assess sport nutrition knowledge and were asked questions about their perceived dietary energy and macronutrient requirements, as well as their body weight goal (i.e., lose, maintain, gain weight). Athletes answered 47.98 ± 11.29% of questions correctly on the nutrition questionnaire with no differences observed between sexes (men: 49.52 ± 11.76% vs. women: 47.03 ± 11.04%; p = 0.40). An inverse relationship between sport nutrition knowledge scores and body fat percentage (BF%) (r = –0.330; p = 0.008), and fat mass (r = –.268; p = 0.032) was observed for all athletes. Fat mass (β = 0.224), BF% (β = 0.217), and body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.421) were all significant (p < 0.05) predictors of body weight goal in women. All athletes significantly (p < 0.001) underestimated daily energy (–1,360 ± 610.2 kcal/day), carbohydrate (–301.6 ± 149.2 grams/day [g/day]), and fat (–41.4 ± 34.5 g/day) requirements. Division III collegiate athletes have a low level of sport nutrition knowledge, which was associated with a higher BF%. Women athletes with a higher body weight, BF% and BMI were more likely to select weight loss as a body weight goal. Athletes also significantly underestimated their energy and carbohydrate requirements based upon the demands of their sport, independent of sex.

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Prevalence of Low Energy Availability in Collegiate Women Soccer Athletes

Cited by 37 publications

References 38 publications

Contributing Factors to Low Energy Availability in Female Athletes: A Narrative Review of Energy Availability, Training Demands, Nutrition Barriers, Body Image, and Disordered Eating

Contributing Factors to Low Energy Availability in Female Athletes: A Narrative Review of Energy Availability, Training Demands, Nutrition Barriers, Body Image, and Disordered Eating

Prevalence of Female Athlete Triad Risk Factors among Female International Volunteers and College Age-Matched Controls

The Influence of Sport Nutrition Knowledge on Body Composition and Perceptions of Dietary Requirements in Collegiate Athletes

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