THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD IN YOUNG ELITE ATHLETES

1029 The aim of this study was to screen young elite athletes for eating disorders, menstrual dysfunction and bonehealth. This is part of a larger ongoing study on the total population of elite male and female athletes in Norway. Subjects included all of the female elite athletes who qualified for the junior or senior national team in 48 different sports (N=274), age 15-20(mean, 18 yrs). Matched controls were also included (N=274). Included in the screening part were the Eating Disorder Inventory, questions related to the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders (DSM-IV) and questions regarding menstrual and injury history. Results from the screening study showed that all athletes, except for seven, had Body Mass Index values below or within the optimal level (range, 11-25). In spite of this, as many as 57% of the athletes had tried to reduce weight one or more times. A similar number of athletes(21%) and controls (18%) were presently dieting. Significantly more athletes(17%) than controls (4%) used pathogenic weight control methods. Eighteen percent reported reported a history of eating disorders and 11% reported being eating disordered during the study. Menstrual dysfunction was reported by 37%(11% had less than six cycles the last 12 months) and 15% reported having had stress fractures. The number of young athletes who reported eating disorders, menstrual dysfunction and stress fractures was higher than the frequency reported by the nonathletic controls (p<0.05). Also, when the numbers are compared with the frequency reported among the older elite athletes (>20yr) the younger athletes reported a higher prevalence of both eating disorders and stress fractures (11% vs 7% and 15% vs 10%; (p<0.05). Compared to previous studies on elite athletes, the reported numbers of eating disorders, mensrual dysfunction and stressfractures are high. However, the true number of these young athletes who meet the clinical criteria for eating disorders, have true amenorrhea and low bone mass is still to be examined in the clinical part of this ongoing study.