Mental Health and Symptoms of Energy Deficiency (REDs) in Young Biathletes
NCT Number: NCT06487260
Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
Conditions: Mental Health Issue|Physical Health
Sponsor: Ostfold University College
Collaborators: Norwegian School of Sport Sciences|Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences|International Biathlon Union
Sex: ALL
Age: CHILD, ADULT
Enrollment: 150
Study Design: Observational Model: |Time Perspective: p
Start Date: 2024-08-01
Completion Date: 2025-07-31
Locations: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Inland, 2418, Norway|Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, 0806, Norway

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.

Primary Outcome Measures: Diagnosis of Eating Disorder, 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., September 2024|Symptom of Eating Disorders, 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., September 2024|Symptoms of Depression, 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, September 2024|Symptoms of Low Energy Availability (LEA), Severity in symptoms of LEA, evaluated by selfreport, responding to the Low Energy Availability for Females Questionnaire, and Low Energy Availiability for males Questionnaire., September 2024|Body composition, Body composition (fat mass and lean body mass) measured by DXA, as part of the evaluation of fitness in biathletes 18 years or older, September 2024|Bone mineral Density, Bone mineral density in biathletes 18 years or older, as a fitness evaluation and symptom of LEA, September 2024
Secondary Outcome Measures: Blood work, energy metabolism, Hormone T3 measured by blood sample to evaluate energy metabolism as a symptom of LEA, September 2024|Blood pressure, orthostatic, The orthostatic blood pressure, as a symptom of LEA, September 2024|Blood pressure, resting, The resting blood pressure, as a symptom of LEA, September 2024|Resting heart rate, Resting heart rate, as a measure of cardiovascular fitness and symptom of LEA, September 2024|Indirect calorimetry, Indirect calorimetry as a measure of energy metabolism, serving as a symptom of energy availability, September 2024
Other Outcome Measures: Body appreciation, Evaulation of body appreciation by the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS, version 2), as a measure for protective/posiitive trait versus risk for Eating Disorders, September 2024|Blood work, iron status, Serum ferritin, transferrin, and serum-iron will be measured as a complete evaluation of iron status, September 2024|Blood work, cholesterol, Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) will be measured for evaulation of health and symptoms of LEA, September 2024|Experience from body composition assessment, Interview of biathletes 18 years or older who participate in DXA measurements. Focus is on how they experience the total body composition assessment as we follow the best practice guidlines. Interview is based on a semi-structured interview guide., September 2024|Demographics, Demographic description of the biathletes (age, competition level, training volume, history of bone fractures, history of menstrual cycle, history of any eating disorder diagnosis), September 2024|Urinary incontinence, Question on experience with urinary incontinence, as a symptom of LEA. Question is a yes/no response to any experience, and a positive response is further detailed about context (urge or stress), September 2024