The Association of Low Energy Availability Knowledge and Risk in Female Track and Field Athletes

BACKGROUND: Under fueling is associated with a number of negative health and performance consequences, and strategies are needed to improve outcomes. Few studies have explored the associations among LEA knowledge and risk of low energy availability (LEA) conditions (i.e., Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), eating disorder/disordered eating (ED/DE)). The purpose of this study was to examine associations between LEA knowledge and LEA and ED/DE risk. METHODS: Female track and field athletes (n = 368) completed an anonymous online survey consisting of demographic information, Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), Female Athlete Screening Tool (FAST), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q)], and LEA knowledge (LEA-KQ). A one-way ANOVA examined differences between LEA-KQ scores and low- vs. high-risk groups for LEA, DE, and ED. Pearson’s partial correlations, controlled for bone stress injury (BSI) and peak training mileage, were used to assess associations between LEA-KQ and LEAF-Q, FAST, and EDE-Q scores. RESULTS: Of the total sample (n = 368; age 29 ± 8 years), 49% were at high risk for LEA based on the LEAF-Q, 35% were at subclinical DE risk and 13% were at clinical ED risk based on the FAST. Scores on the EDE-Q demonstrated 22% of the sample were at high risk for ED. There was a significant difference in mean LEA-KQ scores in athletes at risk for DE based on the FAST [F (2, 365) = 4.078, p = 0.018, η = 0.022]. There were no significant associations between LEA-KQ and LEAF-Q, FAST, and EDE-Q (p = 0.534, p = 0.051, and p = 0.934, respectively) while controlling for BSI and peak weekly mileage. CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between LEA knowledge and risk. This warrants further exploration, as it is important to understand the direction of the relationship to employ effective education-based programs to prevent the negative health and performance consequences associated with under fueling.