Performance enhancement and health最新文献

The use of use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) is associated with an increased risk of several health conditions. Health-related behaviours to prevent and treat these conditions include the use of needle exchange services, having blood tests to monitor one's health and seeking information and support from health professionals and other sources. This study investigates the prevalence of adverse health conditions and health behaviours in a cohort of AAS users from the United Kingdom taking part in an online survey, as well as behavioural factors impacting the likelihood of reporting a health condition in the last 12 months. The sample was composed of 883 adults (72.1 % males, 27.9 % females; M_ed age = 26, min = 16, max = 65). The most common health problems were dermatological (68.1 %) and neuropsychiatric (63.1 %) conditions. Although the majority of participants monitored their health with blood tests (86.4 %) and sought a General Practitioner (GP) to treat health problems (55.0 %), only a minority of LGBTQIA+ males sought a GP for information (12.8 %) or to treat health conditions (18.7 %). Participants who sought a GP for information about AAS were 74 % less likely to report a health condition in the last 12 months (OR = 0.26, 95 % CI 0.18 to 0.40, p < 0.001). These findings can be used to support research and interventions aiming to improve the access of AAS users to the health system by identifying health conditions and health-related behaviours adopted by subpopulations of AAS users.

Evolutionary pressures have shaped human biology and culture. These concepts can also be applied to the progression of elite sports performance, and the recognizable, constitutive characteristics of individual sports over the last ∼120 years. Athletic performance has improved as the population of participants has increased in both number and visibility. Technology and techniques have emerged and improved, and the science of performance and recovery has expanded to drive elite performance close to physiological limits. Detailed examination of decades of elite performance suggests that with athletic performance near the limits of human physiology, technological, biomedical, or rule changes will be necessary for continued world record progression in some sports. The idea that performance-enhancing substances have not had a substantial impact on the evolution of elite performance is introduced.

In this paper, I examine the theoretical foundations of esports anti-doping policies. Specifically, I focus on the health- and integrity-related arguments on which esports organizations rely to justify their anti-doping efforts and how the arguments relate to esports organizations’ partnership with energy-drink companies. First, I briefly explain the creation and development of anti-doping policies in esports. Subsequently, I identify the theoretical foundations of such policies. Then, I expound how the commercial partnership between esports organizations and the energy-drink industry may impact esports anti-doping theoretical underpinnings. I conclude by critiquing this partnership.

Background

Successful wrestling performance is largely dictated by weight. Some wrestlers engage in rapid weight loss methods to maximize performance at lower weight classes. Data from other sports suggest these methods can negatively affect body image (BI) and physical health and put athletes at risk for disordered eating behaviors, but the actual impact in wrestling is unknown. The present study examined the relationship between perceptions of masculinity and BI to eating disorder (ED) risk in male collegiate wrestlers.

Methods

Survey data were collected from active male NCAA wrestlers (n= 63). Wrestlers completed the Eating Attitudes Test, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, the Hoffman Gender Scale, and three open-ended response items.

Results

ED risk was positively correlated to appearance self-importance (r= 0.361, p < 0.01) and body weight vigilance (r= 0.618, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated to BI satisfaction (r = -0.328, p < 0.05). Gender self-acceptance was correlated to lower importance placed on BI (r= 0.402, p < 0.01). Additionally, 35 (53.9%) participants reported at least one maladaptive eating behavior (e.g. binging, vomiting, laxative use). Qualitative data indicates similarities in traits associated with successful wrestlers and the traditional ideal male (mental and physical strength, toughness, surpassing limits).

Conclusions

The masculine traits exemplified by the sport of wrestling may negatively impact BI and encourage maladaptive eating and/or weight-control behavior and increase ED risk. The information in this study can be used to inform the development of safer weight loss practices and specialized educational programs for ED risk for wrestlers. This study highlights a need for further qualitative analysis of weight-control behaviors in collegiate wrestling.

Introduction

This study aimed to explore qualitatively the psychological experience of recovery from relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). More specifically, it sought to understand: how RED-S is experienced from a psychological perspective; sources of psychological conflict in the ongoing management of energy availability (EA); and athlete responses to psychological conflict in the pursuit of optimal EA.

Methods

Eight female endurance athletes identifying as “in recovery” or “recovered” from RED-S (M age = 29.78 years) participated in this integrated methods multiple case-study. Participants engaged in an initial topical life history interview, before completing an online diary over a 21-day period, taking photographs of psychological triggers for seven days, and participating in a follow-up interview. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

The theme in too deep and treading water captured the significant psychological implications of RED-S. Seven sources of psychological conflict reported while managing EA were identified. The theme a constant tug of war represented the responses to these sources of psychological conflict in the ongoing management of EA. Within this theme, the subthemes in two minds and an emotional rollercoaster illustrated the cognitive and affective responses to psychological conflict, while giving in and the only way is through represented the adaptive and maladaptive behavioural responses during recovery, respectively.

Conclusion

This study offers novel insights into the complex nature of recovery from RED-S and highlights the importance of considering psychological factors underpinning improved physiological functioning and overall wellbeing during RED-S recovery.

Research suggests that doping use is an underrecognized problem in football and is on the rise during the last years. Anti-doping education is one of the most important pillars in the fight against doping. The aim of the present study was to investigate football player's preferences for anti-doping education. Participants were 630 football players (456 players were males; 72.4%) from Norway (n = 302), Greece (n = 186) and Lithuania (n = 142). They were administered a questionnaire including questions on demographic information (e.g., age, gender, years of experience, trainings per week) and factual information related to players’ preferences about anti-doping education. Results showed that the majority of players weren't willing to receive anti-doping education, with females, older players and players from Lithuania and Greece reporting higher willingness. With respect to the preferences about education, most players preferred short explanatory videos and online education that would be applied to the whole team/club. Concerning the content, participants requested for information on health side-effects, and case studies with doped and clean athletes’ experiences. Male and older players, as well as players from Norway and Greece preferred online courses, while adolescent and female players and players from Lithuania preferred both online and group courses. The findings of the study provide valuable information for the development of tailor-made and effective anti-doping education.

This research explored whether levels of muscle dysmorphia (MD), orthorexia nervosa (ON), depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies differed among bodybuilders, powerlifters, and a control group of neither bodybuilders nor powerlifters. Each athlete group was further divided into a steroid-using subgroup and a non-steroid-using subgroup. An anonymous online survey was completed by participants recruited through the Internet forum website, Reddit: 555 bodybuilders, 889 powerlifters, and 157 participants in the control group. Regardless of athlete group, levels of MD, ON, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies were greater among steroid users than non-users. Differences among athlete groups were found only for those who did not report using steroids. Among these non-users, both the bodybuilders and powerlifters reported greater levels of MD, ON, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies than the control group; the only significant difference between bodybuilders and powerlifters was for MD. These results can be interpreted within the context of the lifestyle associated with these sports. Many bodybuilders and powerlifters develop very strict (obsessive-compulsive) dietary and training regimes for the purpose of gaining and maintaining the perfect degree of muscle mass and physique, often with the assistance of steroids.