Eating Attitudes, Weight Concerns, Dietary Intake, and Menstruation Among Korean Female Elite Athletes

To examine the eating attitudes, weight concerns, dietary intake, and menstrual function of Korean female elite athletes, 109 subjects in seven sports disciplines (rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, badminton, volleyball, Taekwondo, field hockey, and soccer) responded to a questionnaire consisted of three parts; eating attitudes and behavior(Eating Attitude Test-26; EAT26), body weight perception (Body Dissatisfaction Index: BDI) and weight control behavior, and menstrual history and status. They also recorded three-day dietary intake. Body weight (43.6$\pm$4.3 kg) and body mass index (16.7$\pm$1.4 kg/$m^2$) in rhythmic gymnasts were lower than those in other athletes (P<0.05). EAT26 scores were not different among sport events (12.3$\pm$6.5 total), however, eating disturbances (EAT26 score$\geq$20) were highly prevalent in aesthetic athletes ($30\%$) than in others ($5\%$). More than half of the athletes perceived themselves overweight and four fifth of the athletes desired to reduce weight about 4.4 kg. The gymnasts consumed the lowest caloric intake (1028:t371) while the volleyball players did the highest (2995$\pm$342 kcal/d) (P<0.05). The BDI score was not different among sport events. Three fourth of the athletes experienced weight control, and the most frequently used weight reduction method was exercise followed by using robber suits, diet, and sauna. About $40\%$ of the subjects reported irregular menstrual cycles, but menstrual dysfunction ($\leq$6 menses/yr) was only $5\%$. Generally, the Korean female elite athletes desired to reduce weight from their current body weight. No differences in eating attitude and body dissatisfaction were noticed among athletic disciplines. However, eating disturbances were highly prevalent in aesthetic athletes who also reported much less energy intake than the recommend daily energy intake. It appeared that weight reduction methods were not properly practiced in these population. Menstrual dysfunction was minimally reported.