Intuitive Eating and the Female Athlete Triad in Collegiate Runners

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Nutrition Science
• Bone Health Research

Background:

• Female collegiate runners face risks for disordered eating and poor bone health, key components of the female athlete triad.
• Intuitive eating may improve eating behaviors and energy availability, crucial for bone health and athletic performance.
• Low energy availability is a significant factor contributing to low bone mass in athletes, increasing injury risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate intuitive eating, energy availability, and bone mineral density in female collegiate runners compared to non-athletes.
• To investigate the relationship between intuitive eating, disordered eating, and physiological markers in young female athletes.
• To understand the nutritional and bone health status of female runners in relation to their eating patterns.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of female collegiate runners (n=13) and non-athletes (n=12) using the Intuitive Eating Scale and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire.
• Assessment of bone mineral density and body composition via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
• Calculation of energy availability using 3-day diet records and exercise logs.

Main Results:

• Intuitive eating showed a significant inverse correlation with disordered eating behaviors (r = -0.596, p = 0.002).
• No significant correlations were found between intuitive eating scores and calorie intake, energy availability, bone mass, or body fat percentage.
• Runners consumed significantly more calories and key nutrients (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, protein) than non-athletes; however, energy availability and bone mineral density did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions:

• Intuitive eating is linked to healthier eating behaviors in college-aged women but was not directly associated with energy availability, bone density, or body composition in this study.
• The findings suggest that while intuitive eating promotes healthy behaviors, its direct impact on the physiological markers of the female athlete triad requires further investigation.
• Future research should explore intuitive eating principles for mitigating disordered eating and addressing energy availability issues in female athletes and non-athletes.