Sex Differences in the Health Status of Endurance Runners: Results From the NURMI Study (Step 2)
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Patrick Boldt [1] ; Beat Knechtle ; Pantelis T. Nikolaidis ; Christoph Lechleitner [2] ; Gerold Wirnitzer ; Claus Leitzmann [1] ; Katharina Wirnitzer [3]
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[1] University of Giessen
University of Giessen
Distrito de Gießen, Alemania
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[2] Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Klosterneuburg, Austria
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[3] University of Innsbruck
University of Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria
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- Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 33, Nº. 7, 2019, págs. 1929-1940
- Idioma: inglés
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- Dialnet Métricas: 1 Cita
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Resumen
Optimized endurance performance is closely linked to a good health status (HS), which is crucially affected by sex. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate sex differences in the HS of endurance runners of different distances. A total of 281 female and male recreational runners completed an online survey. Health status included body mass, smoking habits, felt stress, chronic diseases, allergies, intolerances, medication intake, supplement intake, health-related food choice, enhancement substance use, and health care utilization. Data analysis was performed using the independent t-test and chi-squared test with Cohen's d and Cramer's phi ([phi]) to evaluate the magnitude of the differences and associations. There were 159 female and 122 male participants, with 173 runners meeting the inclusion criteria, among them 103 half-marathoners, and 70 marathoners and ultramarathoners, of which one hundred eight 10-km runners were defined as the control group. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was determined for the following findings: there was a higher prevalence of hypothyroidism in women; the use of thyroid medication and the intake of hormones and supplements prescribed by a doctor were more common in women; men reported more often a decrease in body mass due to running training, and women reported more often choosing food to obtain phytochemicals. There was no statistically significant association (p > 0.05) between sex and body mass change because of a change in diet, smoking habits, felt stress, chronic diseases except hypothyroidism, allergies, food intolerances, intake of antihypertensives and cholesterol-lowering medication, intake of performance-enhancing substances, or health care utilization. Both female and male runners had a good HS with no difference between sexes. Based on the findings of this study, monitoring thyroid parameters and vitamin D levels is required in female athletes, whereas adequate body mass control strategies are needed for their male counterparts.
