The relation of eating problems and amenorrhea in ballet dancers

Brooks‐Gunn, Jeanne; Warren, Michelle P.; Hamilton, Linda H.

doi:10.1249/00005768-198702000-00009

Cited by 100 publications

(51 citation statements)

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“…Although numerous studies have attempted to identify the prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in female athletes (13,27,31,36,40,45,46,56,67,74,83,84,99), to date few studies have specifically or deliberately examined the prevalence of subclinical eating disorders (33,73,83). Anecdotal reports and research providing indirect evidence, however, seem to suggest that the incidence of subclinical eating disorders in female athletes is quite high, particularly among those participating in sports that require a low body weight (12,15,22,27,40,58,64,73,81).…”

Section: Prevalence Of Subclinical Eating Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Prevalence and Consequences of Subclinical Eating Disorders in Female Athletes

Beals¹,

Manore²

1994

International Journal of Sport Nutrition

120

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A growing body of evidence suggests that the prevalence of eating disorders and excessive concerns regarding body weight in certain subpopulations of female athletes are increasing. The pressure on female athletes to improve their performances and physiques, coupled with the general sociocultural demand placed on all women to be thin, often results in attempts to achieve unrealistic body size and body weight goals. For some female athletes the pressure to achieve and maintain a low body weight leads to potentially harmful patterns of restrictive eating or chronic dieting. This paper seeks to further delineate the characteristics of a recently identified subclinical eating disorder in female athletes: anorexia athletica. Research studies that support the existence of subclinical eating disorders will be reviewed. In addition, the possible physiological and psychological consequences of subclinical eating disorders will be explored.Key Words: anorexia athletica, dieting, body image, energy intake, energy expenditure, exercise performance For millions of women dieting has become a way of life. It is estimated that currently 40% of all American women are trying to lose weight (49). This national obsession for weight loss is fueled primarily by the intemperate value that society places on physical perfection and the subsequent unrelenting pressures on women to achieve the archetype of perfection, a thin physique (69). Indeed, over the last three decades there has been a marked trend toward an increasingly, almost unrealistically, thin ideal of women's beauty (70). Consequently, pressure is put on young women to restrict their food intake-to diet-to achieve this consummate thinness. Unfortunately, studies indicate that most attempts at longterm weight loss fail (14,50,55,95,96). Efforts to achieve and maintain an excessively thin body shape are often futile because body weight and shape are strongly influenced by biological and physiological variables that predestine women to be heavier than the current sociocultural ideal (9,82

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Section: Prevalence Of Subclinical Eating Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Prevalence and Consequences of Subclinical Eating Disorders in Female Athletes

Beals¹,

Manore²

1994

International Journal of Sport Nutrition

120

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“…In addition, a number of reports have suggested that a significant amount of amenorrhea in athletes is related to binging and purging. 19,81 Third, in contrast to clinical studies of menstrual disturbance in women with alcoholism,17 these data did not implicate alcohol as a risk factor after adjustment for confounding variables (e.g., smoking). There are at least two alternative explanations for this lack of association in these data: (1) the exposure to alcohol was not severe enough or long enough to induce secondary amenorrhea in this young population, or (2) purging and smoking were measured more accurately than alcohol consumption in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Adolescent smoking, weight changes, and binge-purge behavior: associations with secondary amenorrhea.

Johnson¹,

Whitaker²

1992

Am J Public Health

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BACKGROUND. The association of secondary amenorrhea with extreme forms of substance use, weight control, and exercise in nonrepresentative samples raises questions as to whether adolescents in the general population who engage in these behaviors are at increased risk for secondary amenorrhea. We examined the prevalence and behavioral correlates of secondary amenorrhea in a county-wide high school population of 2544 girls aged 13 to 18. METHODS. A survey questionnaire, which elicited menstrual history as well as weight history, weight control practices, level of exercise, and use of cigarettes, wine, and beer, was administered during school hours; absentees were also surveyed. The completion rate was 91%. RESULTS. The 1-year prevalence of secondary amenorrhea was 8.5%. Secondary amenorrhea was associated with smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day (adjusted relative risk [RRa] = 1.96, 1.21-3.10), with multiple binge-eating behaviors in combination with laxative use or self-induced vomiting (RRa = 4.17, 2.54-6.32), and with weight fluctuation due to weight control (RRa = 2.59, 1.33-4.79). There was no association between amenorrhea and alcohol consumption or exercise level. CONCLUSIONS. Estimates of attributable risk are provided and indicate that bulimic behaviors and cigarette smoking may result in a considerable excess of cases of secondary amenorrhea in an adolescent population.

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“…Thus, most of the protein intake must have been of dairy, egg, cereal or vegetable origin, all of which decrease the absorption of non-haem iron. Brooks et al (1984) found an unexpectedly high rate of vegetarianism among amenorrhoeic runners; 82 per cent versus 13 per cent in the regularly menstruating group. The only other signi®cant difference between the groups was the intake of total fat; amenorrhoeic runners consuming 68 g/day versus 98 g/day in the menstruating group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Eleven anorectics, ®ve AN/BN, and nine BN, or a total of 41 per cent, had delayed menarche (Brooks-Gunn et al 1987), i.e. their menarche occurred at 14 years or older.…”

Section: Menstrual Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional aspects of amenorrhoea in eating disordered patients

Wallin

Andersson

Hambræus

1997

Eur. Eat. Disorders Rev.

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Dietary and menstrual histories were assessed in 73 eating disordered patients (34 bulimics, 15 anorectic bulimics, 24 anorectics). The data revealed that anorexia nervosa subjects eliminated fat and fatty products, and included complex carbohydrates, as the very ®rst step towards weight reduction. Bulimics irrespective of weight, sought to eliminate bread and cereals, and instead consumed large amounts of fruit and vegetables. Anorectics experienced amenorrhoea after an average mean period of 3 months, while the corresponding time among bulimic subjects was 36 months. Weight losses were greater in bulimic subjects, both in absolute and relative terms when menstruation ceased, although premorbid weight, and body fat content at amenorrhoea were in the same range among both anorectics and bulimics. The results are discussed with respect to the possible impact of iron-de®ciency, partly due to the inhibitory effects of ®bres upon non-haem iron, leading to decreased conversion of T4 to T3, and early menstrual dysfunction.

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The relation of eating problems and amenorrhea in ballet dancers

Cited by 100 publications

References 0 publications

The Prevalence and Consequences of Subclinical Eating Disorders in Female Athletes

The Prevalence and Consequences of Subclinical Eating Disorders in Female Athletes

Adolescent smoking, weight changes, and binge-purge behavior: associations with secondary amenorrhea.

Nutritional aspects of amenorrhoea in eating disordered patients

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