ENGLISH VERSIONevidenced that 16.6% of the athletes presented a non-usual dietary pattern according to symptoms, but with no significance in terms of severity. These athletes are included among those who are not happy with their body. No athlete had a positive results. The findings of this study suggest the presence of symptoms that do not actually characterize bulimia or anorexia nervosa, but they point to the need of a careful surveillance and assessment of eating disorders and their precursors among athletes, as a way of prevention.Key words: Eating disorders. Athletes. Amenorrhea. Body composition. INTRODUCTIONThe model of beauty society imposes a lean body, without considering health-related aspects and the different physical features of the population. Such distorted beauty standard makes an increasing number of women to go on weight-control diets, to over-practice physical exercises, and to a wide use of laxatives, diuretics and anorectic drugs 1 . These are considered precursory behaviors of eating disorders -which include anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and the so-called non-specific eating disorders, among which the periodic eating compulsion disorder stands out. The detection of partial syndromes of such diseases is of high importance for prevention, as they currently occur more often than the disease itself 2 . Young women, because they are more vulnerable to pressures of society, culture and economics on esthetic standards, are the group at higher risk for eating disorders 3 . Eating disorders are from multiple causes, including genetic, environmental and behavioral factors. People with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa have, in common, an excessive concern with weight and diet, are dissatisfied and have a distorted perception of their body image, and typically are resistant to treatment. Lethality rate from anorexia nervosa ranges between 5% and 20%, which justifies the need for prevention.Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a self-imposed dietary restriction, in order to achieve a marked weight loss. ABSTRACTThe sports environment can enhance social and cultural pressure towards a lean body. The close relationship between corporal image and performance makes the female athletes a group particularly vulnerable to eating disorders and weight-control practices. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the presence of behaviors suggestive of eating disorders, shifts in body perception, and menstrual dysfunctions in female athletes of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro School of Physical Education (EEFD-UFRJ). Twelve female athletes (20 ± 2 years), who had been training for 4.6 ± 2.3 years, a total of 13.8 ± 2.9 hours per week, were examined. The results of the athletes and of 32 young non-athletes (15 ± 1.4 years) were compared. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was used to evaluate weight-control and eating attitudes and behaviors. The Bulimic Investigatory Test Edimburgh (BITE) was used to identify suggestive behaviors of bulimia nervosa, and also to obtain data about cognitive and behav...

Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar a presença de transtorno do comportamento alimentar (TCA) ou síndromes precursoras e o grau de distorção da imagem corporal em atletas de elite de nado sincronizado. Essa modalidade é considerada de risco para desenvolvimento de TCA por valorizar, além de outros aspectos, a leveza e beleza de movimentos que, de certa forma, estão associados a baixa massa corporal. Métodos: Foram avaliadas 27 atletas de nado sincronizado, sendo 19 da categoria juniores (15,6 ± 0,8 anos) e oito da categoria de seniores (19,0 ± 1,3 anos) que compunham a seleção brasileira na época do estudo (2000). Um grupo de 32 adolescentes não-atletas (15,0 ± 1,6 anos) foi usado para comparação com as atletas. Os procedimentos metodológicos adotados foram: aplicação de três instrumentos de auto-relato, validados. 1) EAT-26 -presença de comportamentos alimentares inadequados; 2) BITE -presença de atitudes sugestivas de bulimia nervosa; e 3) BSQ -insatisfação da auto-imagem corporal. Resultados: Embora tanto o grupo de atletas, quanto o de não-atletas tenham apresentado parâmetros antropométricos compatíveis com padrões saudáveis para a idade e sexo, os resultados evidenciam a presença de insatisfação com a auto-imagem corporal e a adoção de práticas patológicas de controle da massa corporal, sobretudo entre atletas da categoria juniores e entre as adolescentes não-atletas. Conclusões: Os resultados encontrados no presente estudo retratam uma tendência mundial de preocupação com a aparência entre adolescentes capaz de levá-las à adoção de condutas não-saudáveis. Palavras-chave: imagem corporal, atletas de nado sincronizado, comportamento alimentar. ABSTRACT Objectives:The aim of the present study was to identify the Eating Behavior Disorder (EBD) or precursory syndromes and the level of distortion of the body image of elite synchronized swimming athletes. This sport modality is considered of risk for development of eating disorders for valuing, among other aspects, the softness and beauty of movements, which, partly, are associated to low body mass. Methods: Twentyseven synchronized swimmers, grouped as Junior (15.6 ± 0.8 years) or 08 as senior category (19.0 ± 1.3 years) were studied. A group of 32 non-athletes adolescents (15.0 ± 1.6 years) was used for comparison with the athletes. For the analysis Three instruments were used in accordance with the objective of the evaluation: 1-Eat-26-presence of inadequate eating behaviors; 2-BITE-presence of suggestive attitudes of Bulimia and 3-BSQ-dissatisfaction of body self-image. Results: The athletes and the non-athletes presented compatible anthropometrical parameters with healthy standards for age and sex; however, there is evidence of body image dissatisfaction associated with pathological control of body weight. Conclusions: The results found in the present study portray a worldwide trend of concern with the appearance among adolescents which is capable of leading them to the adoption of unhealthy behaviors. Keywords: body image, synchronized...

The purpose of this study was to compare repetition performance when resting 1 minute vs. 3 minutes between sets and exercises for an upper-body workout performed in 2 different sequences. Sixteen recreationally trained men completed 4 experimental resistance exercise sessions. All sessions consisted of 3 sets with an 8-repetition maximum load for 6 upper-body exercises. Two different exercise sequences (i.e., A or B) were performed with either 1- or 3-minute rest between sets and exercises, respectively. For sequence A1 (SEQA1) and sequence A3 (SEQA3), resistance exercises were performed in the following order: lat pull-down with a wide grip (LPD-WG), lat pull-down with a close grip (LPD-CG), machine seated row (SR-M), barbell row lying on a bench (BR-B), dumbbell seated arm curl (SAC-DB), and machine seated arm curl (SAC-M). Conversely, for sequence B1 (SEQB1) and sequence B3 (SEQB3), the exercises were performed in the opposite order. The results demonstrated that the effect of exercise order was stronger than the effect of rest interval length for LPD-WG (SEQA3>SEQA1>SEQB3>SEQB1) and SAC-M (SEQB3>SEQB1>SEQA3>SEQA1), whereas the effect of rest interval length was stronger than the effect of exercise order for LPD-CG, SR-M, SAC-DB (SEQA3=SEQB3>SEQA1=SEQB1), and BR-B (SEQB3>SEQA3=SEQB1>SEQA1). These results suggest that upper-body exercises involving similar muscle groups and neural recruitment patterns are negatively affected in terms of repetition performance when performed at the end vs. the beginning of a session, and the reduction in repetition performance is greater when using 1-minute vs. 3-minute rest interval between sets.

Although muscle metabolism and exercise capacity seem to be affected in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, there is little evidence indicating improvement of the exercise tolerance due to levothyroxine (L-T(4)) replacement. The aim of the present study was to verify possible cardiopulmonary changes during exercise in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism on L-T(4) replacement with a normal serum TSH for six months. Twenty-three patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were randomized into treated (no.=11) and untreated (no.=12) patients. A cardiopulmonary test was performed with a treadmill, using the modified Balke protocol. Heart rate, oxygen uptake, minute ventilation and other cardiopulmonary parameters were assessed at the 5th minute of exercise. FT4 levels increased while TSH normalized after hormone replacement. Oxygen uptake decreased significantly after hormone replacement (24.1+/-6.3 vs 17.1+/-4.2 ml x kg x min(-1); p=0.03).Minute ventilation also showed an enhanced performance in treated patients (28.0+/-8.1 vs 23.5+/-5.6 l x min(-1); p=0.03), as did the heart rate (128+/-17 vs 121+/-17 bpm; p=0.03). There were no changes in the untreated group. The results demonstrate that submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise performance improved after six months of TSH normalization and this improvement can help enhance the ability to carry out daily life activities in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Objectives:To evaluate the impact of subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) treatment on health--related quality of life (QoL), psychiatric symptoms, clinical score, and muscle function. Materials and methods: In this randomized double-blind study, patients were assigned either to treatment (n = 35) or placebo (n = 36). Clinical and psychiatric symptoms were assessed by the Zulewski, Hamilton and Beck scales. QoL was assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire. Assessments of quadriceps (QS) and inspiratory muscle (IS) strength were performed by a chair dynamometer and a manuvacuometer. Results: Treatment improved IS (+11.5 ± 17.2; p = 0.041), as did QoL domains "Pain" and "Role Physical" (+19.7 ± 15.2, 0.039 and +22.1 ± 47.5, p = 0.054; respectively). Clinical and psychiatric symptoms showed similar responses to both interventions. Conclusions: sHT treatment improved IS and physical aspects of QoL, despite no impact in other muscle parameters. Clinical score, psychiatric symptoms, and SF-36 domains, based on mental dimensions of QoL may be more susceptible to "placebo effect" in patients with sHT.Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(2):128-36 Keywords Anxiety; depression; quality of life; levothyroxine RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar o impacto do tratamento do hipotireoidismo subclínico (sHT) na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QoL), aos sintomas psiquiátricos, ao escore clínico e à função muscular. Materiais e métodos: Em um ensaio randomizado duplo-cego, pacientes foram randomizados para tratamento (n = 35) ou uso de placebo (n = 36). Sintomas clínicos e psiquiá-tricos foram acessados por meio das escalas de Zulewski, Hamilton e Beck. A QoL foi avaliada pelo questionário SF-36. Medidas da força de quadríceps (QS) e inspiratória (IS) foram obtidas por um dinamômetro de cadeira e um manovacuômetro. Resultados: O tratamento melhorou a IS (+11,5 ± 17,2; p = 0,041), assim como os domínios "Dor" e "Aspectos Físicos" da QoL (+19,7 ± 15,2, 0,039 e +22,1 ± 47,5, p = 0,054, respectivamente). Sintomas clínicos e psiquiátricos demonstraram respostas similares a ambas as formas de intervenção. Conclusões: Tratamento do sHT melhorou IS e aspectos físicos da QoL, apesar de não ter impacto em outros parâmetros musculares. Escore clínico, sintomas psiquiátricos e domínios do SF-36 que focam em dimensões mentais podem ser mais suscetíveis ao "efeito placebo" em pacientes com sHT.

No abstract

This study aimed to verify the impact of levothyroxine replacement on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a Brazilian sample of primary hypothyroidism patients. A cross-sectional study was performed with 2,057 consecutive primary hypothyroidism patients on levothyroxine (LT4) replacement at four referral centers in Brazil (median age = 53; 25th percentile = 43; 75th percentile = 61 years). Patient biochemical data were acquired from medical records, and patients completed a questionnaire on socioeconomic issues and clinical signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36v2. Patients were divided into three groups according to TSH levels: overtreated (OvT; TSH < 0.4 mU/L), appropriately treated (AT; TSH between 0.4 and 4.0 mU/L), and undertreated (UnT; TSH > 4.0 mU/L). Patients were also analyzed by TSH and FT4 serum levels: overt hyperthyroidism (OHyper; TSH < 0.4 mU/L and FT4 > 1.9 ng/dL), subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper; TSH < 0.4 mU/L and FT4 0.8-1.9 ng/dL), subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo; TSH > 4.0 mU/L and FT4 0.8-1.9 ng/dL), and overt hypothyroidism (OHypo; TSH > 4.0 mU/L and FT4 < 0.8 ng/dL). A total of 14.4 % of patients were OvT, with 13.0 % SHyper and 1.4 % OHyper. The prevalence of UnT was 25.9 %, with 21.5 % SHypo and 4.4 % OHypo. Overtreatment was not associated with HRQoL impairment. UnT patients had worse HRQoL than AT patients, especially for physical and emotional aspects, independent of SHypo or OHypo status. Hypothyroidism undertreatment is associated with poor patient HRQoL. Therefore, adequate LT4 therapy should be given to maintain serum TSH within the reference range.

scTox is associated with lower muscle mass and mid-thigh girth and more fatigue. Physical activity training can partially ameliorate these characteristics. More studies are needed to determine what training program would be optimum, both in terms of beneficial effects and for avoiding potential adverse responses.