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

Annalisa N. Freire, Katie N. Brown, Stacie H. Fleischer, Dennis L. Eggett, Andrew R. Creer, Marlene I. Graf, Jenna Dyckman, Jennifer M. Turley and Susan Fullmer
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Annalisa N. Freire: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Katie N. Brown: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences, College of Agricultural and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Stacie H. Fleischer: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Dennis L. Eggett: Department of Statistics, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Andrew R. Creer: Department of Exercise Science & Outdoor Recreation, College of Science, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT 84058, USA
Marlene I. Graf: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences, College of Agricultural and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Jenna Dyckman: Home and Community Department, Utah State University Extension, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Jennifer M. Turley: Department of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Moyes College of Education, Weber State University, Ogden, UT 84408, USA
Susan Fullmer: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: college students; female athlete triad; volunteers; bone mineral density; amenorrhea; food security; body satisfaction; weight loss (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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