Eating Disorders in Athletes Flashcards
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Which hormonal change is most characteristic of hypothalamic amenorrhea in female athletes with low energy availability?
Answer: Suppressed GnRH pulsatility
Low energy availability suppresses GnRH pulsatility from the hypothalamus, disrupting the entire HPG axis and causing amenorrhea.
A male endurance athlete presents with low libido, fatigue, and stress fractures. Which condition best explains this cluster in the context of the Male Athlete Triad?
Answer: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
RED-S describes the broad health and performance consequences of low energy availability in male athletes, including hormonal and bone health impairments.
Which validated screening tool uses items such as 'I am terrified of being overweight' and is commonly used in athletic populations for eating disorder risk?
Answer: Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)
The EAT-26 is a widely validated self-report screening tool that assesses eating disorder attitudes and behaviors, including fear of weight gain.
An athlete with anorexia nervosa resumes eating after prolonged restriction. Which electrolyte abnormality is the primary concern during refeeding?
Answer: Hypophosphatemia
Refeeding syndrome is characterized by a dangerous drop in serum phosphate as insulin drives phosphate into cells during renewed carbohydrate metabolism.
Which sport category has consistently shown the highest prevalence of clinical eating disorders in research studies?
Answer: Aesthetic and weight-class sports
Aesthetic sports (gymnastics, figure skating) and weight-class sports (wrestling, rowing) show the highest prevalence due to weight and appearance pressures.
What does a DXA scan finding of a Z-score of -2.0 or below indicate in an athlete?
Answer: Low bone mineral density relative to age-matched peers
A Z-score of -2.0 or below indicates bone mineral density that is significantly lower than age- and sex-matched peers, which is the threshold of concern in athletes.
Which neurotransmitter system dysregulation is most associated with binge-purge cycles in bulimia nervosa?
Answer: Serotonin signaling
Dysregulation of serotonin signaling is strongly implicated in bulimia nervosa, which is why SSRIs (particularly fluoxetine) are an approved pharmacological treatment.