PURPOSE: It is widely accepted that low caloric energy intake, with or without disordered eating, is associated with health consequences in female athletes. Female distance runners are subject to the societal “thin ideal” in addition to sport-specific body ideals and performance pressures, that may result in low energy intake and over exercise to control body weight. There is a gap in the literature regarding the structural and environmental predictors of low energy intake and the pursuit of weight loss in collegiate distance runners, as well as specific health consequences experienced by this population.The purpose of this study is to address this gap in the literature through a qualitative investigation of collegiate distance runners with low energy intake, with or without disordered eating.
METHODS: Motivated by feminist theory, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Interviews were transcribed and coded for major themes.
RESULTS: Participants (n=30) represented 19 Universities and had a mean age of 25. Four major themes emerged, including the pursuit of the “ideal of the runner body,” coaches encouraging athletes lose weight, as well as both severe injury and performance burnout following a period of restrictive eating and overtraining.
CONCLUSION: These findings will serve to better understand prevention, early intervention, and tertiary care in the population of female distance runners.