Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes
Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a complex syndrome describing health and performance consequences of low energy availability (LEA) and is common among female endurance athletes. Various underlying causes of LEA have been reported, including disordered eating behavior (DE), but studies...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.869594/full |
| _version_ | 1818572193822408704 |
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| author | Ida Lysdahl Fahrenholtz Anna Katarina Melin Paulina Wasserfurth Andreas Stenling Andreas Stenling Danielle Logue Ina Garthe Karsten Koehler Maria Gräfnings Mia Beck Lichtenstein Sharon Madigan Monica Klungland Torstveit |
| author_facet | Ida Lysdahl Fahrenholtz Anna Katarina Melin Paulina Wasserfurth Andreas Stenling Andreas Stenling Danielle Logue Ina Garthe Karsten Koehler Maria Gräfnings Mia Beck Lichtenstein Sharon Madigan Monica Klungland Torstveit |
| author_sort | Ida Lysdahl Fahrenholtz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a complex syndrome describing health and performance consequences of low energy availability (LEA) and is common among female endurance athletes. Various underlying causes of LEA have been reported, including disordered eating behavior (DE), but studies investigating the association with exercise addiction and food intolerances are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between DE, exercise addiction and food intolerances in athletes at risk of LEA compared to those with low risk. Female endurance athletes, 18–35 years, training ≥5 times/week were recruited in Norway, Sweden, Ireland, and Germany. Participants completed an online-survey comprising the LEA in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and questions regarding food intolerances. Of the 202 participants who met the inclusion criteria and completed the online survey, 65% were at risk of LEA, 23% were at risk of exercise addiction, and 21% had DE. Athletes at risk of LEA had higher EDE-Q and EAI scores compared to athletes with low risk. EAI score remained higher in athletes with risk of LEA after excluding athletes with DE. Athletes at risk of LEA did not report more food intolerances (17 vs. 10%, P = 0.198), but were more frequently reported by athletes with DE (28 vs. 11%, P = 0.004). In conclusion, these athletes had a high risk of LEA, exercise addiction, and DE. Exercise addiction should be considered as an additional risk factor in the prevention, early detection, and targeted treatment of RED-S among female endurance athletes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:53:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c143db6c70c949b99e7611d1874a171e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T18:53:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-c143db6c70c949b99e7611d1874a171e2022-12-21T22:51:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672022-05-01410.3389/fspor.2022.869594869594Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance AthletesIda Lysdahl Fahrenholtz0Anna Katarina Melin1Paulina Wasserfurth2Andreas Stenling3Andreas Stenling4Danielle Logue5Ina Garthe6Karsten Koehler7Maria Gräfnings8Mia Beck Lichtenstein9Sharon Madigan10Monica Klungland Torstveit11Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder, Kristiansand, NorwayDepartment of Sport Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Växjö, SwedenDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder, Kristiansand, NorwayDepartment of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenSport Ireland Institute, National Sports Campus, Dublin, IrelandThe Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medical Science, Dalarna University, Falun, SwedenCentre for Telepsychiatry, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DenmarkSport Ireland Institute, National Sports Campus, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder, Kristiansand, NorwayRelative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a complex syndrome describing health and performance consequences of low energy availability (LEA) and is common among female endurance athletes. Various underlying causes of LEA have been reported, including disordered eating behavior (DE), but studies investigating the association with exercise addiction and food intolerances are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between DE, exercise addiction and food intolerances in athletes at risk of LEA compared to those with low risk. Female endurance athletes, 18–35 years, training ≥5 times/week were recruited in Norway, Sweden, Ireland, and Germany. Participants completed an online-survey comprising the LEA in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and questions regarding food intolerances. Of the 202 participants who met the inclusion criteria and completed the online survey, 65% were at risk of LEA, 23% were at risk of exercise addiction, and 21% had DE. Athletes at risk of LEA had higher EDE-Q and EAI scores compared to athletes with low risk. EAI score remained higher in athletes with risk of LEA after excluding athletes with DE. Athletes at risk of LEA did not report more food intolerances (17 vs. 10%, P = 0.198), but were more frequently reported by athletes with DE (28 vs. 11%, P = 0.004). In conclusion, these athletes had a high risk of LEA, exercise addiction, and DE. Exercise addiction should be considered as an additional risk factor in the prevention, early detection, and targeted treatment of RED-S among female endurance athletes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.869594/fullLow Energy Availability in Females Questionnairecompulsive exerciseendurance trainingRelative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)eating disorderrestrictive eating behavior |
| spellingShingle | Ida Lysdahl Fahrenholtz Anna Katarina Melin Paulina Wasserfurth Andreas Stenling Andreas Stenling Danielle Logue Ina Garthe Karsten Koehler Maria Gräfnings Mia Beck Lichtenstein Sharon Madigan Monica Klungland Torstveit Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes Frontiers in Sports and Active Living Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire compulsive exercise endurance training Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) eating disorder restrictive eating behavior |
| title | Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes |
| title_full | Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes |
| title_fullStr | Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes |
| title_short | Risk of Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Addiction, and Food Intolerances in Female Endurance Athletes |
| title_sort | risk of low energy availability disordered eating exercise addiction and food intolerances in female endurance athletes |
| topic | Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire compulsive exercise endurance training Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) eating disorder restrictive eating behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.869594/full |
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