Prevalence of disordered eating patterns and menstrual status in japanese female athletes / 体力科学

This study investigated the desire and its reasons for weight loss, the prevalence of disordered eating patterns and menstrual status, by using written questionnaires and Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), in Japanese female athletes (n=1000) and nonathletic controls (n=593) . Athletes were divided into the following 6 categories : technical (n=84), endurance I (n=84) and II (n=76), aesthetic (n=120), ball-game (n=447), and power sports (n=189) . Endurance I consisted of athletes competing in sports where leanness were considered important, while endurance II consisted of athletes competing in sports where leanness is less important. In each category, about four fifths of the athletes wanted to reduce their present weight. As to the reasons for weight loss, the athletes, especially those in the categories of endurance I (79%), power (52%) and aesthetic (34%) sports, reported that they prefer to be thin for improving their athletic performance. The prevalence of disordered eating patterns estimated by EAT-26 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the athletes of endurance I (20%) and aesthetic (12%) groups than in the nonathletic controls (3 %) . In the athletes of these two sporting event categories, higher rates of amenorrhea (endurance I 20% and aesthetic 7 % vs. nonathlets 1 %) were found to be accompanied by lower values of obesity index and BMI. These data indicate a significantly higher prevalence of disordered eating patterns and menstrual dysfunction in the athletes involved in sports where leanness is emphasized, and a close relationship among undernutrition, low body weight and menstrual dysfunction.

A study of physique and physical fitness of field hockey players. (II). A case of Japanese national women's field hockey players / 体力科学

In order to find the characteristics of physique and physical fitness of the field hockey players, data were collected from the Japanese Women's Team members in anthropometric measurements and physical fitness test over an eight-year period starting 1978.<BR>From the data collected for this study the following observations were made :<BR>1. From the data obtained during the last eight years, the tendency to increase or to improve was observed in the mean values of their physique and functional test items.<BR>2. The Japanese National Women's hockey players were superior in agility, especially, side-step-test but inferior in muscular strength, flexibility and cardio-respiratory functions to national players in other activities ; their physique were smaller than others.<BR>3. When compared with hockey players of foreign countries, it was observed that Japanese Women's hockey players were smaller in physique and inferior in muscular strength and cardio-respiratory functions.<BR>4. When individual measurements of three years span were compared longitudinary, upper arm girth, muscular strength of upper limb and trunk had increased and jumping reaction time had improved, but not too many differences were observed in flexibility and cardio-respiratory function during the three years.

A study of physique and physical fitness of field hockey players. I. A case of Japanese National Men's Field Hockey players / 体力科学

In order to find the characteristics of physique and physical fitness of the field hockey players, the data were collected from the Japanese Men's Team members in anthropometric measurements and physical fitness test during the last six years since 1978.<BR>From the data collected for this study the following observation were made :<BR>1. The Japanese National Men's Field Hockey players had superior measurements in agility, especially, Side-Step-Test and cardiorespiratory function but inferior measurements in muscular strength and flexibility than players in other activities<SUP>17)</SUP> ; their physique were smaller than others.<BR>2. When compared with Tokyo Olympic Field Hockey players of twenty years ago, some increments in measurements were recognized in weight, circumferences, muscular strength and cardiorespiratory function; but not too much differences were observed in various longitudinal measurements, jumping reaction time, simple reaction time and flexibility.<BR>3. When individual measurements of three years span were compared longitudinally, circumferences like chest girth and upper arm girth, Vertical jump and Side-Step-Test were increased but cardiorespiratory function declined with the age. The rest of the items did not change much during the span of three years.