Mental Health and Symptoms of Energy Deficiency (REDs) in Young Biathletes
- Conditions
- Mental Health IssuePhysical Health
- Registration Number
- NCT06487260
- Lead Sponsor
- Ostfold University College
- Brief Summary
Participation in weight-sensitive sports has been identified as a significant risk factor for low energy availability (LEA), relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), and eating disorders. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the symptoms of LEA, REDs, and mental health issues in young biathletes. This study investigates the prevalence of these symptoms in young, talented biathletes from one of the leading nations in the sport. By including athletes of both sexes aged 16, 17, and 18, this study aim to determine whether symptom severity is associated with age, sex, or performance level. Furthermore, this study will explore the experiences of biathletes aged 18 and older with the new best practice guidelines for body composition assessment, designed by an IOC working group on the REDs consensus update of 2023 to safeguard athletes from negative experiences. The insights gained from this study may enhance the understanding of the frequency of health symptoms, the age or performance level at which symptoms typically increase, and the specific needs of athletes to ensure their safety and well-being in the sport.
- Detailed Description
Being physically active is associated with a range of positive mental, physical, and psychosocial health benefits. Although athletes might be expected to enjoy these positive health effects, studies also show that high-level competitive athletes have a similar prevalence of certain mental disorders as the general population. Beyond reflecting the normal occurrence of mental health challenges in the population, performance expectations related to participation in competitive sports may contribute to many athletes experiencing periods or persistent mental health issues. Despite the increased openness in recent years about top athletes experiencing mental stress and disorders, there is little knowledge about the overall prevalence, especially among younger athletes at sub-elite performance levels. In 2023, Norwegian media highlighted a serious concern about the mental health of young biathletes, underscored by an alarming and unexpectedly high incidence of suicide among young biathlon talents.
Ski sports are among many weight-sensitive sports challenged by a high prevalence of eating disorders, particularly among female athletes. Eating disorders are linked to a high risk of low energy availability (LEA) and the syndrome relative energy deficiency (REDs) in athletes. REDs involve a variety of health challenges that follow LEA, and mental health issues can be both contributing factors to and effects of LEA. Knowledge about the prevalence of LEA, eating disorders, and REDs specifically among biathletes is very limited. A recent study found that a group of young female skiers (17 years old), including biathletes, on average consumed too little energy and carbohydrates relative to their athletic needs, and that 17% had LEA. A previous study recruited female athletes aged 25 years with self-expressed concern for REDs. This study found an overall prevalence of eating disorders corresponding to 21.3%, and that 65% in the sub-group of biathletes had LEA. Athletes with LEA symptoms had both lower weight and BMI, and the highest prevalence of eating disorders. At the same time, there is a study with young male skiers (including biathletes) aged 16 years, which finds a high prevalence of low bone mass and loss of bone mass through puberty. Low bone mass is one of the cardinal signs of LEA and REDs.
There is a need to map the prevalence of mental health issues and symptoms of REDs in young biathletes. Such knowledge can be used to understand the extent, specific vulnerable periods, and potentially explain why some are more affected than others. This knowledge can be used to more easily identify those who may need help and to initiate early interventions before the severity and complexity increase. In this exploratory national cross-sectional study, the aim is to map mental health and symptoms of REDs in young biathlon talents aged 16-19 years. In connection with mapping the physical symptoms of REDs, this study also aim to evaluate athlete experiences when closely following the new proposed guidelines and recommendations for measuring body composition in athletes. The guidelines (three members of this project group contributed in producing those guidelines) were given to protect athletes from negative experiences with body evaluation, so fewer are at risk of developing a negative body image and disordered eating behaviors or eating disorders.
This study works from the following hypotheses: 1) The prevalence of body dissatisfaction, depression, eating disorders, and symptoms of REDs (hereafter: outcome measures) is low in 16-year-old biathletes; 2) the prevalence of outcome measures increases with age and is therefore higher in 18-year-old biathletes; 3) the prevalence of eating disorders and symptoms of REDs is higher in girls than boys in all age groups; 4) young biathletes aged 18 years experience a professional and safe implementation of body composition evaluation when recommended guidelines are followed.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 150
- competetive biathlete
- live in Norway, speaks or understand written and oral Norwegian
- injured and prevented from regular training (3 months leading up to recruitement)
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Symptoms of Depression September 2024 Severity in symptoms of depression and number of athletes with symptoms of depression. Evaulation will be by selfreport, responding to the Beck Depression Inventory v-2
Symptom of Eating Disorders September 2024 Number of athletes with symptoms of eating disorders, and type of eating disorder. Evaulation will be by a selfreport responding to the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire.
Body composition September 2024 Body composition (fat mass and lean body mass) measured by DXA, as part of the evaluation of fitness in biathletes 18 years or older
Diagnosis of Eating Disorder September 2024 Number of athletes with a diagnosable eating disorder, and type of eating disorder. Evaulation will be by a clinical interview following the validated Eating Disorder Examination Inverview.
Symptoms of Low Energy Availability (LEA) September 2024 Severity in symptoms of LEA, evaluated by selfreport, responding to the Low Energy Availability for Females Questionnaire, and Low Energy Availiability for males Questionnaire.
Bone mineral Density September 2024 Bone mineral density in biathletes 18 years or older, as a fitness evaluation and symptom of LEA
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Resting heart rate September 2024 Resting heart rate, as a measure of cardiovascular fitness and symptom of LEA
Blood work, energy metabolism September 2024 Hormone T3 measured by blood sample to evaluate energy metabolism as a symptom of LEA
Blood pressure, orthostatic September 2024 The orthostatic blood pressure, as a symptom of LEA
Blood pressure, resting September 2024 The resting blood pressure, as a symptom of LEA
Indirect calorimetry September 2024 Indirect calorimetry as a measure of energy metabolism, serving as a symptom of energy availability
Trial Locations
- Locations (2)
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
🇳🇴Lillehammer, Inland, Norway
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
🇳🇴Oslo, Norway