Bg. Wiita et Ia. Stombaugh, NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE, EATING PRACTICES, AND HEALTH OF ADOLESCENT FEMALE RUNNERS - A 3-YEAR LONGITUDINAL-STUDY, INT J SP NU, 6(4), 1996, pp. 414-425
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in nutrition knowledg
e, intakes, attitudes, and behaviors as well as health status of 22 fe
male adolescent runners. Subjects completed questionnaires, interviews
, and dietary analyses twice over a 3-year period. Over this time they
experienced physical growth and improved athletic performance. Althou
gh their mean score on a test of basic and sports nutrition knowledge
remained stable at 67%, after 3 years more runners correctly responded
to statements about carbohydrate and fat. However, fewer responded co
rrectly to statements regarding fluid intake and skipping meals. Altho
ugh runners increased the percentage of calories consumed as carbohydr
ates, they significantly decreased their mean energy intake, thus lowe
ring carbohydrate intake. They significantly lowered protein, calcium,
potassium, and sodium intakes. The incidence of possible eating disor
ders increased, as did stress fractures. Over 3 years, nutrition knowl
edge did not improve, the quality of dietary intakes decreased, incide
nce of eating disorders and stress fractures increased, and menstrual
irregularities remained high.