title: Gastrointestinal disturbances in marathon runners.
abstract: To determine the prevalence of various gastrointestinal disturbances related to long-distance running and its effect on weight, diet and everyday digestive problems, we gave a questionnaire to 279 leisure-time marathon runners, comprising 10% of the participants in a local marathon race. Their answers disclosed a prevalence of dietary changes, weight reduction and altered bowel habits (mainly looser stools and/or more frequent defaecation) of 37, 38 and 48% respectively. A quarter reported earlier long lasting gastrointestinal problems, which improved in 41% of the runners after they started regular training. Thirty-four percent experienced gastrointestinal disturbances during or after running, 20% to such an extent that it seriously affected their performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Buskerud Central Hospital, Drammen, Norway.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lyng
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glomsaker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ritland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012420:Running; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss