Eating behavior and menstrual state for female athletes to keep drive for thinness and restriction of weight

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  • 痩身および体重制限を強いられる女子スポーツ選手の摂食行動および月経状態に関する調査研究
  • ソウシン オヨビ タイジュウ セイゲン オ シイラレル ジョシ スポーツ センシュ ノ セッショク コウドウ オヨビ ゲッケイ ジョウタイ ニ カンスル チョウサ ケンキュウ

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Abstract

A study was conducted to clarify the relationship between the characteristics of sport, eating behavior, and menstrual symptoms in female athletes. In Study 1, two groups of female athletes, identified by sport characteristics of body image and weight restriction (forced athletes : FA; and unforced athletes : UFA), and a non-exerciser group (control : C), were first classified into three menstrual states (amenorrhoeic : AS; oligomenorrhoeic; OS; and normal : NS) on the basis of self-reports. They then completed measurements of physique (height, weight, and BMI) and phydicdl composition (% fat) , and the Garner's Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) . It was found that the FA group had a significantly larger frequency of AS and OS than the UFA and C groups. Analysis of variance revealed that the FA group had significantly lower %fat than the UFA and C groups. The FA group showed larger scores for some factors of the EDI relative to the other groups. Furthermore, AS and OS individuals also had low %fat dnd, large scores for some EDI factors. In Study 2, 5 high- and 5 low-score subjects were selected from each group of Study 1 according to the EDI to examine their menstrual symptoms. All subjects performdd the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) each day for about one month. The data for the 7 days prior to, and the 7 days after the onset of menstruation were adopted to analyze the STAI and MSQ for comparison among the groups (FA, UFA and C) and eating behavior status (high and low EDI). It was found that the STAI and MSQ scores clearly increased around the day of menstruation onset in all groups, and that the UFA group had significantly smaller responses from day to day than the FS and C groups. While only the UFA group was superior to the other groups for psychological indices in relation to menstruation, both the athlete groups showed higher scores for physical symptoms than the C group. This suggests that while regular exercise may improve pychological responses to menstruation, it worsens physical symptoms such as pain. Especially, the drive for thinness and weight restriction may enhance the physical and psychological responses accompanying menstruation.

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