M.S.

Master of Science

To obtain descriptive information concerning female bodybuilders and women who weight train, a questionnaire concerning training regimes, menstrual history and dieting strategies was developed and administered with the EDI included as part of the questionnaire. Factors assessed included: incidence of menstrual irregularity, scores on the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), prevalence of behaviors associated with eating disorders, and mean body fat. Subjects were between the ages of 18 and 35 and included individuals from Personal Health Classes at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Weight Lifting Club, and Goad's Gym in Blacksburg, Virginia. Subjects were classified by activity (weight lifters versus controls), involvement (high, moderate and low) and competition (noncompetitive and competitive). Chi-square analysis indicated that there was no difference in incidence rates of menstrual irregularity between weight lifters (WLs) and controls (Cs); however, the rates of both groups were higher than the general population. Although there was no difference in menstrual function of involvement groups, 50% of the competitors, significantly more than non-competitors, were classified as oligomenorrheic or amenorrheic. All subject groups had mean scores approaching anorexic patient norms on the EDI Bulimia and Maturity Fears subscales. WLs were significantly higher on Drive for Thinness than Cs and more WLs had subscale scores higher than the mean scores presented for anorexics. Additionally, significantly more WLs reported uncontrollable urges to eat, fear of fat, and history of anorexia. Mean %BF of the WLs was 20.18% with competitors being significantly leaner than non-competitors. The high degree of menstrual dysfunction in both WLs and Cs is confusing; yet, the 27% incidence of oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea in WLs is much higher than the rates documented for the general population. The high Drive for Thinness and incidence of negative eating behaviors indicate that the prevalence of eating disorders in this population may progress as this relatively new sport evolves and competitive participation increases. / M.S.

The effects of two hypocaloric diets on body weight (BW), percent body fat (%BF), lean body mass (LBM) and static muscular endurance were studied in college aged experienced male weightlifters for 7 days. Nineteen (X age = 20.6) volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control (n=5), High Protein/Moderate Carbohydrate - HP/MC (n=7) or Moderate Protein/High Carbohydrate - MP/HC (n=7). The two hypocaloric groups consumed 18 kcal/kg body weight for 7 days. The HP/MC group's diet contained 1.6 g/kg body weight/day of protein while the MP/HC group consumed 0.8 g/kg body weight/day of protein. Fat content of both diets was approximately equal so that carbohydrate content varied inversely with protein content. The control group was asked to follow a weight maintenance diet. All groups followed a similar supervised weight training regimen approximately 2 hours per day, six of the seven days of the study. Analysis of variance revealed that weight loss for the control group was not significant over the seven day experiment but that the two experimental groups showed a similar significant decrease in body weight of 3.6 kg for the HP/MC group and 4.0 kg for the MP/HC group. %BF of all subjects was significantly lower over the 7 day study using both skinfold measurements and hydrostatic weighing but there was no significant difference between the groups. LBM losses calculated from skinfold measurements were seen over time for all subjects and a significant interaction showed the 2 experimental groups to lose significantly more LBM over the 7 day study. LBM determined from hydrostatic weighing produced losses as well, but no differences were noted between the groups. All groups experienced quadricep endurance decrements over the 7 day study, but did not differ from each other. No significant changes were found for bicep endurance. It was concluded that neither the HP/MC diet nor the MP/HC diet was effective for maintaining LBM or quadricep endurance. However, both diets did produce significant losses in BW and %BF over the week long study. / M.S.