Menstrual dysfunction and body weight dissatisfaction among Finnish young athletes and non-athletes
Year of publication
2021
Authors
Ravi, Suvi; Waller, Benjamin; Valtonen, Maarit; Villberg, Jari; Vasankari, Tommi; Parkkari, Jari; Heinonen, Olli J.; Alanko, Lauri; Savonen, Kai; Vanhala, Marja; Selänne, Harri; Kokko, Sami; Kujala, Urho M.
Abstract
To determine the prevalence of menstrual dysfunction (MD; i.e. oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea) and attitudes towards body weight among athletes and non‐athletes, we studied a cohort of athletes and non‐athletes, in adolescence (14–16 years) and subsequently in young adulthood (18–20 years). We further studied the differences between athletes reporting MD and eumenorrheic athletes at both time periods and identified physical and behavioural characteristicsthat might predict MD in young adulthood. Data were collected using questionnaires, accelerometers, and a pre‐participation screening. In adolescence, the athletes reported current primary amenorrhea more often than the non‐athletes (4.7% vs. 0%, p=0.03). In young adulthood, athletes reported MD more frequently than non‐athletes (38.7% vs. 5.6%, p<0.001). Athletes had less desire than non‐athletes to lose weight at both time points, and in adolescence athletes were more satisfied with their weight. However, about one fifth of the athletes and about 40% of the non‐athletes experienced body weight dissatisfaction at both time points. In adolescence, athletes reporting MD had lower BMI than eumenorrheic athletes. In young adulthood, athletes with MD were more physically active than eumenorrheic athletes. The only longitudinal predictor of MD in young adulthood was MD in adolescence.Our findings indicate that MD is relatively frequent among young Finnish athletes. However, athletes appear to have a smaller tendency to experience body weight dissatisfaction than their non‐athletic peers. MD seems to track from adolescence to adulthood, suggesting that there is a need to focus on possible causes at the earliestfeasible phaseof an athlete’s career.
Show moreOrganizations and authors
University of Turku
Heinonen Olli
Publication type
Publication format
Article
Parent publication type
Journal
Article type
Original article
Audience
ScientificPeer-reviewed
Peer-ReviewedMINEDU's publication type classification code
A1 Journal article (refereed), original researchPublication channel information
Publisher
Volume
31
Issue
2
Pages
405-417
ISSN
Publication forum
Publication forum level
2
Open access
Open access in the publisher’s service
No
Self-archived
Yes
Other information
Fields of science
Genetics, developmental biology, physiology; Biomedicine; Gynaecology and paediatrics; Health care science; Public health care science, environmental and occupational health; Sport and fitness sciences
Keywords
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Publication country
United Kingdom
Internationality of the publisher
International
Language
English
International co-publication
Yes
Co-publication with a company
No
DOI
10.1111/sms.13838
The publication is included in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Publication data collection
Yes