Program Rationale

Title

A rationale for the development of the Star Athlete Nutrition Education (SANE) program submitted by Michelle Moore.

Health Problem Identified

Participation in sports for females can result in a myriad of proven short- and long-term health benefits; however, there are adverse health consequences associated especially with the overzealous female athlete. These health consequences have been grouped into what is known as the female athlete triad. “According to the 2007 American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand, female athlete triad (Triad) is defined as the interrelatedness of energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density” (Thein-Nissenbaum, Rauh, Carr, Loud, & Mcguine, 2011). This disorder often goes unrecognized. “Although the exact prevalence of the female athlete triad is unknown, studies have reported disordered eating behavior in up to 62 percent of female college athletes. Amenorrhea occurs in up to 66 percent of female athletes, compared with only 5 percent of women in the general population” (Hobart & Smucker, 2000). A study of 311 high school female athletes found that 35.4% reported disordered eating, 18.8% reported menstrual dysfunction, 65.6% reported sustaining a sports-related musculoskeletal injury during the current sports season. Moreover, these athletes who reported disordered eating (ED) were twice as likely to be injured compared to those reporting normal eating behaviors (Hobart & Smucker, 2000).

 

Health Problem in Santa Clarita, CA

“A 2006 survey of 170 female student-athletes between the ages of 13 and 18 at six Southern California high schools revealed that 18 percent experienced disordered eating” (Popke, 2007). There are approximately 370 female athletes enrolled at each public high school in Santa Clarita. With a total of 7 public high schools, this accounts for approximately 2,590 total female athletes each year (Participation Report, 2019). This could mean that that nearly 500 of these student-athletes could face an eating disorder according to the 2006 survey if the problem is not addressed.

Proposed Solution

With the increasing number of female athletes, it is imperative to address this issue head-on at an early age. One of the best ways to prevent the female athlete triad is through education, which is why the Star Athlete Nutrition Education program was created. The mission of the Star Athlete Nutrition Education (SANE) program is to prevent symptoms related to the Female Athlete Triad in young female high school athletes in Santa Clarita, California. There are no existing programs that target the female athlete population to promote sound sports nutrition and positive body image in the high school setting, which is why SANE has decided to create a team-based program specifically targeting high-school female athletes in the classroom environment.

 

Benefits

The ultimate goal of the SANE program is to encourage sound sports nutrition choices, promote a healthy body image, and prevent disordered eating. Studies show that young female athletes who consume a well-rounded diet and get the proper nutrients have more regular menstrual cycles and have fewer musculoskeletal injuries (Hobart & Smucker, 2000). Avoiding disordered eating can even lead to lower health care costs and higher employment rates as these young women grow up (Samnaliev, Noh, Sonneville & Austin, 2014).

 

Defining Success

High school athletic programs are in a unique position to help influence the eating behaviors of these young female athletes. It is usually too late to teach these important lessons by the time an athlete enters college.  SANE will be addressing topics such as macronutrients needed for energy and recovery,  pre- and post-workout nutrition, effects of media depictions of women, self-esteem,  perceptions of healthy body weight, and societal pressures to be thin (ATHENA, n.d.). After the athletes go through this program, they will gain better knowledge and awareness of the above topics and set themselves up for less injury and better overall health as they grow older.

*** Reflection *** The program rationale is really the backbone of the program. I learned that establishing the “why” for the program and narrowing down the health issues as it pertains to the target audience is key when gaining support of stakeholders. Stakeholders want to know how the health issue is a problem in their community and why they should support the program. Obtaining appropriate statistics to entice stakeholders was also something that I found important when creating the rationale.