Many female athletes relate a small
body size to increased physical performance, and restrict caloric intake to
maintain a lean body figure (Reinking
& Alexander, 2005). Disordered eating and severe
caloric restriction can be recognized through both physical and psychological
changes (Bonci
et al., 2008). Female athletes in body image or
weight sensitive sports are at a higher risk for restricting calories because
of the sport’s stress on physical appearance (Reinking
& Alexander, 2005). Adequate caloric intake to support
energy demand is critical for maintaining nutrient balance and normal bodily
functions.
How does calorie
restriction affect bodily functions?
Leptin, a hormone produced by fat
cells, is involved in the regulation of energy balance (Weimann,
2002). Leptin inhibits the synthesis of
the appetite-stimulating neuropeptide and in periods of starvation, leptin
levels are significantly low (Weimann,
2002). Secretions of pituitary hormones
are hindered with low leptin levels causing the reproductive system to be
stressed and increasing the risk for amenorrhea (Weimann,
2002). Chronic caloric restriction will
delay menarche (first menstrual cycle) and pubertal maturation because of low
fat mass and imbalanced hormone levels, which can also impact future fertility (Weimann,
2002).
Female athletes with irregular
menstrual cycles or amenorrhea from disordered eating have a lower circulation
in estrogen, which is an inhibitor of osteoclasts (Benardot,
2011). Osteoclasts are the cells that
break down bone and if it’s inhibitor, estrogen, is low, then female athletes
with amenorrhea are more at risk for low bone density and developing
osteoporosis (Benardot,
2011). Osteoporosis is deficient bone
formation and premature bone loss causing skeletal fragility and increased
susceptibility to stress fractures (Beals,
Brey, & Gonyou, 1999). Insufficient calcium and vitamin D
intake from a restricted diet further escalates a female’s risk for low bone
density (Thompson,
2007).
Athlete education on nutrition is
imperative in order to have a healthy female athletic population.
How can we help prevent the female athlete triad?
Information adopted from The Female Athlete Triad Coalition. Calorie
Counter
Information adopted from The Female Athlete Triad Coalition. Calorie
Counter
Always consult with your physician about any
concerns or questions on your health.
What do you do everyday to make sure you
are consuming enough calories to fit your active lifestyle?
References
Beals, K. A., Brey, R. A., & Gonyou, J. B.
(1999). Understanding the Female Athlete Triad: Eating Disorders, Amenorrhea,
and Osteoporosis. Journal of School Health, 69(8), 337–340.
Benardot, D. (2011). Advanced Sports Nutrition. Human Kinetics.
Bonci,
C. M., Bonci, L. J., Granger, L. R., Johnson, C. L., Malina, R. M., Milne, L.
W., … Vanderbunt, E. M. (2008). National Athletic Trainers’ Association
Position Statement: Preventing, Detecting, and Managing Disordered Eating in
Athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 43(1), 80–108.
California
Agriculture Online. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2012.
Reinking,
M. F., & Alexander, L. E. (2005). Prevalence of Disordered-Eating Behaviors
in Undergraduate Female Collegiate Athletes and Nonathletes. Journal of
Athletic Training, 40(1), 47–51.
Thompson,
S. H. (2007). Characteristics of the female athlete triad in collegiate
cross-country runners. Journal of American College Health: J of ACH, 56(2),
129–136.
Weimann, E. (2002). Gender-related differences in elite gymnasts: the
female athlete triad. Journal of Applied Physiology, 92(5),
2146–2152.
