Female Athlete Triad Knowledge and the Risk of Low Energy Availability and Disordered Eating in Recreationally Active and Competitive Adult Females

Abstract

Objective:

To examine and compare the knowledge related to the female athlete triad and the signs and symptoms of low energy availability (LEA) and disordered eating (DE) in competitive (CO) and recreationally active (RA) females.

Methods:

Premenopausal females (n = 631, age 25 ± 7 years) completed an electronic survey that assessed female athlete triad knowledge and risk for LEA and DE. Participants self-selected as CO (n = 123) or RA (n = 508). Logistic regression examined the associations between membership in RA versus CO (reference group) and knowledge related to the female athlete triad. Linear regression assessed the association of group membership as predictor variables with LEA and DE risk scores.

Results:

Only 22% of participants were familiar with the female athlete triad term and almost half the total participants were at risk for LEA (45%) and/or DE (45%). The RA group was less likely to be familiar with the female athlete triad than CO (odds ratio = 0.34, confidence interval [CI]: 0.22, 0.53, p < 0.001), yet group membership did not predict risk for LEA (β = −0.57, CI: −1.42, 0.28, p = 0.19) or DE (β = 1.34, CI: −1.72, 4.39, p = 0.39).

Conclusion:

There is a lack of knowledge related to the female athlete triad, coupled with a relatively high prevalence of LEA and DE risk among physically active females, regardless of athletic status (CO vs. RA). Given the high prevalence of LEA and DE risk found in our study, expanding nutrition education and awareness of the health consequences of the female athlete triad to all physically active females is warranted.