Eating Disorders in Athletes Flashcards
7 cards from real CSSD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Eating Disorders in Athletes flashcards as text
A collegiate swimmer's coach restricts caloric intake to improve performance. According to ethical guidelines, what is the sports dietitian's primary obligation?
Answer: Prioritize athlete health and advocate for adequate energy intake
Sports dietitians are ethically bound to prioritize athlete health and must advocate for adequate energy availability regardless of coaching pressure.
Which biomarker measured via blood work provides the best indicator of chronic energy restriction and nutritional status in an athlete suspected of disordered eating?
Answer: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
IGF-1 is sensitive to energy and protein availability and declines with chronic restriction, making it a useful biomarker for assessing nutritional status in athletes.
An athlete purges via excessive exercise rather than vomiting. This is best classified as which type of compensatory behavior?
Answer: Non-purging type bulimia nervosa
Non-purging type bulimia nervosa involves compensatory behaviors like excessive exercise or fasting rather than self-induced vomiting or laxative use.
Which cardiac finding on ECG is most concerning in an athlete with severe anorexia nervosa and should prompt immediate medical referral?
Answer: Prolonged QTc interval
A prolonged QTc interval in anorexia nervosa indicates risk of fatal arrhythmia (torsades de pointes) and warrants immediate cardiac evaluation.
When using the Brief Eating Disorder in Athletes Questionnaire (BEDA-Q), a positive screen should trigger which next step?
Answer: Referral to a mental health professional with eating disorder expertise
A positive screen on any eating disorder tool should prompt referral to a qualified mental health professional, as diagnosis and psychological treatment require clinical expertise.
What effect does chronic low energy availability have on resting metabolic rate (RMR) in athletes?
Answer: RMR decreases as the body adapts to conserve energy
Chronic low energy availability triggers metabolic adaptation including a reduction in RMR as the body down-regulates energy expenditure to preserve function.
In the context of sports nutrition counseling, motivational interviewing is preferred over direct advice-giving for athletes with disordered eating because it:
Answer: Elicits the athlete's own motivation and reduces resistance to change
Motivational interviewing is client-centered and evokes intrinsic motivation, which is especially important when athletes are ambivalent about changing eating behaviors.