Assessment of Nutritional Knowledge, Habits, and Eating Behavior in Athletic Women to Evaluate the Possible Impact on Their Menstrual Function

The present study aims to investigate the degree of knowledge about nutrition and dietary habits in athletic women through validated questionnaires and to evaluate a possible impact on their menstrual function, including women with a diagnosis of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) and women who present with a different menstrual dysfunction (oligomenorrhea or polymenorrhea in absence of organic causes).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, Functional

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 102

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Rossella Nappi, MD; Phone Number: 0382503325; Email: r.nappi@smatteo.pv.it

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Pavia, Italy, 27100
    • Recruiting
    • Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, SSD Ostetricia e Ginecologia 2 - Riproduzione e Procreazione Medicalmente Assistita
    • Contact: Rossella Nappi, MD; Phone Number: +390382503325; Email: r.nappi@smatteo.pv.it

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Young athletic women referred for menstrual dysfunction of non-organic causes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female sex
• Age 16-30 years
• Physical activity > 2 days per week
• Informed consent from the patient and/or an authorized legal representative

Exclusion Criteria:

• Menstrual disorders of organic cause (ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, polyps, etc.)
• Concomitant non-reproductive organic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, etc.)
• Use of psychopharmacological therapies
• Language barrier

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assess nutritional knowledge in athletic women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea	The outcome will be assessed with a single measurement through a validated questionnaire (General and Sport Nutrition Knowledge [GeSNK]). More specifically, the proportion of subjects with moderate knowledge (score between 46 and 58) will be evaluated.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation of nutritional knowledge in athletic women with menstrual dysfunctions of different nature, comparing women with FHA to those with oligomenorrhea/polymentorrhea in the absence of organic diseases.	Assessment of nutritional knowledge through GeSNK questionnaire in women with menstrual dysfunction of non-organic cause other than functional hypothalamic amenorrhea	Baseline
Assessment of eating habits in in athletic women with menstrual dysfunctions of different nature, comparing women with FHA to those with oligomenorrhea/polymentorrhea in the absence of organic diseases	Assessment of eating habits and nutritional intake through a food diary to identify the presence of low energy availability.	Baseline
Evaluation of eating behavior in athletic women with menstrual dysfunctions of different nature, comparing women with FHA to those with oligomenorrhea/polymentorrhea in the absence of organic diseases.	Assessment of Low Energy Availability in Females questionnaire [LEAF-Q]	Baseline
Evaluation of eating behavior in athletic women with menstrual dysfunctions of different nature, comparing women with FHA to those with oligomenorrhea/polymentorrhea in the absence of organic diseases.	Assessment of Eating Attitude Test 26 [EAT-26]	Baseline
Evaluation of eating behavior in athletic women with menstrual dysfunctions of different nature, comparing women with FHA to those with oligomenorrhea/polymentorrhea in the absence of organic diseases.	Assessment of Eating Disorder Inventory -2 [EDI-2]	Baseline
Evaluation of eating behavior in athletic women with menstrual dysfunctions of different nature, comparing women with FHA to those with oligomenorrhea/polymentorrhea in the absence of organic diseases.	Assessment of ORTO-15 questionnaire	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 13, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 10, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 10, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Eating disorders; Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Menstruation Disturbances; Amenorrhea
• Other Study ID Numbers: P_6620

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No