Understanding anthropometry, metabolism and menstrual status of Japanese college female long-distance runners

Sayumi Iwamoto
Faculty of Human Life Design, Toyo University, WELLB-HUB2 1-7-11, Akabanedai, Kita-ku, Tokyo 115-8650.
Kiyoko Sugita
Faculty of Human Life Design, Toyo University, WELLB-HUB2 1-7-11, Akabanedai, Kita-ku, Tokyo 115-8650
Kazuko Ishikawa-Takata
Faculty of Applied Biosciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8502, Japan
Masaharu Kagawa
Institute of Nutrition Sciences, Kagawa Nutrition University, 3-9-21 Chiyoda, Sakado, Saitama 350-0288, Japan.
Masako Ota
Faculty of Food and Nutrition Science, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Izumino, Itakura-machi, Ora-gun Gunma 374-0193, Japan
Teturo Suzuki
Faculty of Applied Biosciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8502, Japan
Patria Anne Hume
Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, AUT Millennium, 17 Antares Place Rosedale Auckland, 0632, New Zealand.

Published 31-12-2021

Keywords

  • Female long-distance runners,
  • Metabolism,
  • Energy availability,
  • Menstrual dysfunction,
  • Anthropometry

How to Cite

Iwamoto, S., Sugita, K., Ishikawa-Takata, K., Kagawa, M., Ota, M., Suzuki, T., & Hume, P. A. (2021). Understanding anthropometry, metabolism and menstrual status of Japanese college female long-distance runners. International Journal of Kinanthropometry, 1(1), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk2113

Dimensions

Abstract

Aim: To understand the anthropometry, metabolism, and menstrual status of Japanese collegiate female long-distance runners. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 29 Japanese college female long-distance runners divided into three menstruation status groups: 1) Regular; 2) Irregular; and 3) Amenorrhea. The amenorrhea group was further divided into participants who consulted a gynecologist and those who did not. Metabolism was measured using resting metabolic rate, total energy expenditure, and physical activity level. Energy was measured using energy intake, exercise energy expenditure, and energy availability (EA). Anthropometric measurements were performed following standardized techniques from the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Results: Of the 29 runners, 68% had menstrual dysfunction. The amenorrhea group who had consulted a gynecologist had lower body mass index (BMI) and lower skinfolds than the other groups. All groups had more than 30 kcal/kg fat free mass/day for EA with no difference between the groups. Conclusions: There was high prevalence of menstrual dysfunction in the female Japanese college long-distance runners. Runners with amenorrhea had lower BMI and lower skinfolds than the other groups, despite having consulted a gynecologist for medical support. All the runners had an energy deficiency higher than the published threshold; therefore, this threshold did not differentiate the amenorrhea or irregular menstruating athletes from regular menstruating athletes. Longitudinal tracking of athletes should include measurement of height, body mass, and skinfolds to enable evaluation of BMI, the sum of eight skinfold sites, and leanness ratio score as possible indicators over time for menstrual dysfunction.

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