Effects of Resistance Training in Body Composition and Body Image Perception of Women Throughout the Menstrual Cycle

The objective of this research study is two-fold, 1) to determine if body composition and body image perception are affected through the different phases of the menstrual cycle, and 2) if an acute session of resistance training can have different effects depending on the menstrual cycle phase.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Body Image Disturbance
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: EFP; Behavioral: LFP; Behavioral: ELP; Behavioral: LLP

Detailed Description

The purpose of the research is to establish whether body composition and body image perception are affected throughout the different phases of the menstrual cycle and if the perception can be modified through resistance training. To the best of our knowledge, only one study has analyzed the effects of the menstrual cycle on body image perception. However, research analyzing the effects of the menstrual cycle on both body image perception and, body composition is lacking. Furthermore, research in the effects of resistance training on menstrual cycle-related changes on both perceived and measured body composition are inexistent. Findings from this study have the potential to increase the knowledge about resistance training's effects in modulating body image perception throughout the menstrual cycle. Further understanding of these responses may set the groundwork to develop exercise intervention programs to reduce the risk of developing more serious mental conditions linked to unhealthy body image perception.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Edwardsville, Illinois, United States, 62026
      • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Sedentary or Active
• 18.5-34.9 kg/m2 BMI
• Normal menstrual cycle defined as 28 to 30 days and a duration of 3 to 7 days
• Age range is 18-45 years old
• The inclusion of other participants may alter the results as an increase in body fat has been linked to known changes in different hormonal levels and those changes might influence substrate utilization
• Changes in the hormonal status of pre-menopausal women may appear without symptoms
• Younger females also display variations in their hormones since they are going through the process of development

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous physiological and mental health history
• Pregnant females
• Males
• Irregular menstrual cycle, menstrual dysfunction or unusual sex hormone levels
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Contraceptives, a medication that alters hormonal or cardio-respiratory responses
• Pre-menopausal symptoms
• On moderate to high-intensity exercise regime more than 2 days/week

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Early Follicular Phase (EFP); The group will engage in the Resistance Training intervention on the fourth day of their menstrual cycle, which will correlate with the middle of the early follicular phase (EFP).	Behavioral: EFP; This intervention will take place on day 4 of the participants' menstrual cycle. This will correspond to the mid-point of the early follicular phase (EFP).
Experimental: Late Follicular Phase (LFP); The group will engage in the Resistance Training intervention on the eleventh day of their menstrual cycle, which will correlate with the middle of the late follicular phase (LFP).	Behavioral: LFP; The intervention will take place on day 8 of the participants' menstrual cycle. This will correspond to the mid-point of the late follicular phase (LFP).
Experimental: Early Luteal Phase (ELP); The group will engage in the Resistance Training intervention on the eighteenth of their menstrual cycle, which will correlate with the middle of the early luteal phase (ELP).	Behavioral: ELP; The intervention will take place on day 18 of the participants' menstrual cycle. This will correspond to the mid-point of the early luteal phase (ELP).
Experimental: Late Luteal Phase (LLP); The group will engage in the Resistance Training intervention on the twenty-fifth day of their menstrual cycle, which will correlate with the middle of the late luteal phase (LLP).	Behavioral: LLP; The intervention will take place on day 25 of the participants' menstrual cycle. This will correspond to the mid-point of the late luteal phase (LLP).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Image Perception through questionnaire	Participants will be distributed the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scale (MBSRQ-AS) to measure their body image perceptions.	Through study completion: an average of 1 month
Body Image Perception through drawing scale	Participants will be distributed the Contour Drawing Rating Scale to measure their body image perception.	Through study completion: an average of 1 month
Barriers to Weight Control	Participants will be distributed the Survey of Barriers to Weight Control to measure their body image perception.	Through study completion: an average of 1 month
Fat Mass in Kilograms	We will measure fat mass using the Dual-Energy Xray Absorptiometry (DXA)	Through study completion: an average of 1 month
Lean Body Mass in Kilograms	We will measure lean body mass using the Dual-Energy Xray Absorptiometry (DXA)	Through study completion: an average of 1 month
Relative Body Fat	We will measure relative body fat (percentage) using the Dual-Energy Xray Absorptiometry (DXA)	Through study completion: an average of 1 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bench Press One Repetition Maximum	Participants muscular strength will be assessed by a one-repetition (1RM) on bench press	At baseline: 1 assessment point prior randomization
Leg Press One Repetition Maximum	Participants lower body muscular strength will be assessed by a one-repetition (1RM) on leg press	At baseline: 1 assessment point prior randomization
Dietary habits	The participants diet will be recorded using the ASA-24h recall	Before each exercise session: 1 assessment point on each menstrual cycle phase
Estrogen (Estradiol) levels	Blood will be drawn from the participants for assessment of the estrogen hormone	Before each exercise session: 1 assessment point on each menstrual cycle phase
Progesterone levels	Blood will be drawn from the participants for assessment of the progesterone hormone	Before each exercise session: 1 assessment point on each menstrual cycle phase

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Maria Fernandez del Valle, PhD, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 16, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): March 16, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 29, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 30, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 4, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 27, 2021
• Last Verified: July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Menstrual Cycle; Body Composition; Intervention; Resistance Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: 160

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No