A1 Journal article (refereed)
Menstrual dysfunction and body weight dissatisfaction among Finnish young athletes and non‐athletes (2021)

Ravi, S., Waller, B., Valtonen, M., Villberg, J., Vasankari, T., Parkkari, J., Heinonen, O. J., Alanko, L., Savonen, K., Vanhala, M., Selänne, H., Kokko, S., & Kujala, U. M. (2021). Menstrual dysfunction and body weight dissatisfaction among Finnish young athletes and non‐athletes. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 31(2), 405-417. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13838

JYU authors or editors

Ravi, Suvi
Villberg, Jari
Kokko, Sami
Kujala, Urho

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ravi, Suvi; Waller, Benjamin; Valtonen, Maarit; Villberg, Jari; Vasankari, Tommi; Parkkari, Jari; Heinonen, Olli J.; Alanko, Lauri; Savonen, Kai; Vanhala, Marja; et al.

Journal or series: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

ISSN: 0905-7188

eISSN: 1600-0838

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 26/09/2020

Volume: 31

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 405-417

Publisher: Wiley

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13838

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71913

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of menstrual dysfunction (MD; i.e. oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea) and attitudes towards body weight among athletes and non‐athletes, we studied a cohort of athletes and non‐athletes, in adolescence (14–16 years) and subsequently in young adulthood (18–20 years). We further studied the differences between athletes reporting MD and eumenorrheic athletes at both time periods and identified physical and behavioural characteristicsthat might predict MD in young adulthood. Data were collected using questionnaires, accelerometers, and a pre‐participation screening. In adolescence, the athletes reported current primary amenorrhea more often than the non‐athletes (4.7% vs. 0%, p=0.03). In young adulthood, athletes reported MD more frequently than non‐athletes (38.7% vs. 5.6%, p<0.001). Athletes had less desire than non‐athletes to lose weight at both time points, and in adolescence athletes were more satisfied with their weight. However, about one fifth of the athletes and about 40% of the non‐athletes experienced body weight dissatisfaction at both time points. In adolescence, athletes reporting MD had lower BMI than eumenorrheic athletes. In young adulthood, athletes with MD were more physically active than eumenorrheic athletes. The only longitudinal predictor of MD in young adulthood was MD in adolescence.Our findings indicate that MD is relatively frequent among young Finnish athletes. However, athletes appear to have a smaller tendency to experience body weight dissatisfaction than their non‐athletic peers. MD seems to track from adolescence to adulthood, suggesting that there is a need to focus on possible causes at the earliestfeasible phaseof an athlete’s career.

Keywords: young people; athletes; menstruation; menstrual cycle; puberty; body mass index; body image; sports medicine