Body Composition of Elite, Eumenorrheic and Amenorrheic, Adolescent Cross-Country Runners
in Pediatric Exercise ScienceThe purpose of the study was to investigate the seasonal relationship of athletic amenorrhea and body composition in elite, adolescent, cross-country runners. The participants consisted of 28 female adolescent cross-country runners (mean age ± SD = 15.4 ± 1.5 years); 17 eumenorrheics and 11 amenorrheics. The participants’ body composition was measured pre- and postseason using dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometer (DXA). The eumenorrheics’ postseason BMD was significantly greater than the amenorrheics’ postseason BMD (F(1,54) = 16.22, p < .05, partial η2 = .231). The eumenorrheics’ postseason bodyweight (F(1,54) = 7.65, p < .05, partial η2 = .124), BF (F(1,54) = 8.56, p < .05, partial η2 = .137), and BMC (F(1,54) = 8.52, p < .05, partial η2 = .136) were significantly greater than the amenorrheic subgroup. There was also a significant seasonal increase in BMD (t(27) = –4.01, p < .05) for the overall group and the eumenorrheic subgroup (t(16) = –3.90, p < .05). Bodyweight best predicted BMD (F(1,26) = 46.434, p < .05, R2 = .641). In the study, athletic amenorrhea was highly associated with lower levels of BMD in the participants, and crosscountry running was highly associated with increased BMD.
Bonis and Speaker are with the College of Education and Human Development, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148. Loftin is with the Dept. of Health Exercise Science and Parks and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677. Kontos is with the Dept. of Kinesiology and Recreation Administration, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521.
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