Abstract:Introduction: For a variety of causes, the athlete's diet becomes increasingly restricted; this can also be sport-specific, resulting in a condition known as Female Athlete Triad. The research aimed to identify early symptoms of the Female Athlete Triad in female athletes involved in Aesthetic Sports (Rhythmic Gymnastics) and Non-Aesthetic Sports (Football) aged between years.
Methodology: The present observational study was conducted among football athletes and rhythmic gymnastics athletes of age 15 to 25 years in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The variables investigated in the study for the research objective included the Low Energy Availability Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), quantitative measurements of body composition, and energy availability (EA). Female football players (n = 30) and gymnasts (n = 22) gave their consent. The statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS 21.
Results: Of the 52 participants studied, 17.3% of participants (9 out of 52 women) were classified as being at-risk for the triad according to their LEAF-Q scores. Out of these 23% were from Non-aesthetic sports (footballers) and 9% from Aesthetic Sports (rhythmic gymnastics). The energy availability (EA) of the two groups was significantly different, with a p-value of 0.049, with the at-risk group having a much lower EA (8±5.1) than the non-risk group (21±16). There were no significant differences in body composition between the group of athletes.
Conclusion: Early identification of symptoms of the Female Athlete Triad by screening tools such as the LEAF questionnaire is important in protecting young athletes from long-term damage.
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