Certified athletic trainers can look to educational competencies for working with athletes outlined by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, according to Dr. Thompson. She noted that female trainers report feeling more confident in identifying athletes with eating disorders, which may suggest a need to better educate male trainers. Finally, she pointed out that 25% of trainers work at colleges that lack protocols for managing athletes with eating disorders, and recommended that universities—and high schools as well—establish such protocols.
“Prevention efforts do work and should be implemented,” Dr. Thompson concluded. “It's important that a team of professionals be there to work with athletes.” Mental health, athletic-training, medicine, and nutrition professionals; coaches; and athletic administrators “can all work together to improve the health of the female athlete.”
Dr. Thompson reported that her survey was funded by a grant from the South Carolina Osteoporosis Coalition, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
A survey of 300 female collegiate cross-country runners found that 23% had irregular menstrual cycles. ©Galina