An examination of the relationship between disordered eating status and nutrient intake among NCAA cross-country runners

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of disordered eating and the relationships between disordered eating and nutrient status among male and female NCAA cross-country runners (n=49). At the beginning of the Fall 2014 cross-country season, runners completed a baseline questionnaire, which assessed sports participation history and training volume, injury history, menstrual history, eating behaviors, and general health history. Runners also completed in three, unannounced, phone-based 24-hour dietary recalls, which were used to analyze nutrition status, and an evaluation of their exercise training, which was used to determine mean daily exercise energy expenditure. Using independent t tests, results showed that 36.7% of female runners and 40% of male runners were classified with disordered eating (DE). Among those with DE, 50% of female runners met the criteria for dietary restraint and 41.7% of male runners reported excessive exercise. Male and female runners with DE also admitted to having disordered weight perceptions (83.3% and 75%, respectively). Female runners with DE had significantly lower intakes of energy (2318.7±284.2 vs. 2875.3±604.5, p=0.05), protein in g/day and g/kg (96.9=18.3; 1.6±0.4 vs. 125.7±23.5; 2.3±0.5; p=0.02, p=0.01, respectively), and carbohydrates in g/day (5.2±1.3 vs. 7.2=0.8, p=0.04) compared to female runners with no DE. Male runners with DE had significantly higher calcium intake than male runners with no DE (2111.2±682.6 vs. 1480.3±562.9, p = 0.01). The findings in this study underscore the need for standardized nutrition intervention and education programs in university athletics departments as well as the need for gender specific assessment criteria for disordered eating.