The Weight of Victory: Exploring Short- and Long-term Health Outcomes in Former Male & Female Elite Athletes from Weight-sensitive Sports
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Musculoskeletal Health, Fertility, Mental Health, Quality of Life. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
The Weight of Victory: Exploring Short- and Long-term Health Outcomes in Former Male & Female Elite Atheltes from Weight-sensitive Sports
Overview
The health of former elite athletes has been identified as a critical research gap where there is limited knowledge about both short- and long-term consequences after ending their careers. The transition phase from an active elite career to everyday life has been shown to be particularly problematic, yet this issue has been little studied among former Norwegian elite athletes. Furthermore, questions remain regarding the health of athletes from weight-sensitive sports, such as weight-class, aesthetic, and certain endurance sports. These athletes face specific challenges related to maintaining a certain physique and frequent changes in body weight during their active careers. This group has been shown to be vulnerable to a range of problematic health outcomes related to low energy availability, and little is known about the long-term effects of a career involving this. Therefore, the overall purpose of the project is to map the mental and physical health of former elite athletes. At the same time, there will be a particular focus on the differences between weight-sensitive and less weight-sensitive sports, different types of sports, gender, as well as previous dieting and eating behaviors.
Detailed description
The project will be a quantitative cross-sectional study that includes former elite athletes from both weight-sensitive and less weight-sensitive sports, as well as a sample from the general population for comparison. Information will be collected via an electronic questionnaire that surveys a range of physical and mental health variables among the participants. In addition, behavioral variables related to impulse control, eating and dieting patterns, and weight regulation will be assessed.
Furthermore, the project is expected to contribute new knowledge by identifying health challenges and the explanatory variables for these challenges among former elite athletes. Thus, the project can inform the development of targeted preventive measures, interventions, and policy changes that can improve health and quality of life both during and after athletes' careers and be of significant importance for future athletes.
Primary outcome measures
- Symptoms of eating disorders (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, EDE-Q) [Time frame: January 2025 to June 2025]
- Pain, function, and overall well-being connected to musculoskeletal status (Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire, MSK-HQ) [Time frame: From January 2025 to June 2025]
- Menstrual function and history & fertility function and history (The Low Energy Availability in Males Questionnaire, LEAM-Q, Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire, LEAF-Q, and The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, MoBa) [Time frame: From January 2025 to June 2025]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Symptoms of Psychological Distress (Symptom Checklist-10, SCL-10) [Time frame: From January 2025 to June 2025]
- Alchohol and drug use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption, AUDIT-C and Drug Use Disorders Identification Test, DUDIT) [Time frame: From January 2025 to June 2025]
- Satisfaction With Life (Satisfaction With Life Scale, SWLS) [Time frame: From January 2025 to June 2025]
- Cognitive Function (PROMIS® v2.0 Cognitive Function-Short Form 6a) [Time frame: From January 2025 to June 2025]
- Body Appreciation and Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms (Body Appreciation Scale-2, BAS-2, and the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory, MDDI) [Time frame: From January 2025 to June 2025]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Represented the national team at senior and/or junior level, (Non-organized sports) competed at national and/or international level. , >1 year since retirement , >18 years old,and a proficient level of Norwegian reading and writing skills
Exclusion criteria
\-
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06801210 · 841008