GYMNASTS, DISTANCE RUNNERS - ANOREXICS BODY-COMPOSITION AND MENSTRUALSTATUS

Ten top class female distance runners, ten female anorexics and twenty female gymnasts of a similar age were compared for height, mass, %fat , fat mass, lean body mass, age of menarche and incidence of amenorrho ea. The mean age of the distance runners, anorexics, and gymnasts was 13.6 years, 14.7 years, and 13.3 years respectively. In comparison to normal data on females of a similar age they were shorter, lighter, ha d lower fat masses, and %fat, and the gymnasts and anorexics had lower lean body masses. However, the gymnasts and runners had higher lean b ody masses compared with the anorexic group. There were no significant differences in body composition by hydrostatic weighing but of these three groups the anorexics tended to have the highest total skinfold, %fat and fat masses. Only 20% of the gymnasts, 40% of the runners and 70% of the anorexics had started menstruating compared with 95% of gir ls of a similar age. Of the girls in our study who held started menstr uating one gymnast, (25% of sub-group) two runners (50% of sub-group) and seven anorexics (100% of sub-group) had developed secondary amenor rhoea. The low body masses, low fat masses, delayed menarche anti seco ndary amenorrhoea in athletes are discussed in relation to low caloric intake, stress, hormone levels, high training loads and genetic facto rs. Our data demonstrating no significant differences in body composit ion variables between the three groups of young girls, support the mai n contention that this type of physique may arise through different me chanisms leading to a common outcome, but without a proven causal link between anorexia and athletic performance.