Energy Intake In Female Athletes

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In comparison to average individuals the energy intake to maintain weight balance is higher for athletes. There are three main reasons for decreased energy intake in young athletes 1) disorder eating or eating disorder 2) intentional restriction to reduce body weight and lastly 3) failure to increase energy intake when training demands for energy are high. This could cause appetite suppression from exercise. Female athletes are at the highest risk for complications related to low energy intake. Again, as mentioned in the articles above this is more predominate in sports that weight is focused on. This reduction in energy may lead to fatigue, illness, injury, poor sports performance and signs and symptoms of female athlete triad mentioned …show more content…
Only athletes between 11 and 25 years without any medical conditions were allowed to participate. Intake and energy expenditure were recorded for a minimum of 6 days and the athletes were provided a frequently consume list of common food and beverages (with standard portions). The German federal food data base using Ebispro software version 7.0 was used to determine energy intake and nutrients of athletes recorded intake. Once the food and exercise logs were completed the athlete returned the following morning in the fasted state to have blood work drawn and anthropometrics recorded. The researchers used the Cunningham equation to determine resting energy expenditure along with the activity factor of 1.3. Hormonal levels were age-adjusted to 16.2 years old and statistical analysis (Koehler, …show more content…
Female athletes had higher amounts of leptin and insulin but lower amounts of IGF-1and T3 then their male counter parts. Female athletes who had increased leptin with lower EA where found to have higher body fat percentages that female athletes with higher EA. Males and all other hormone measurement in females had no other significant findings. In both males it was found that EA was lowest in weight-class sports and in females it was lowest in racquet athletes. Insulin concentrations were lowest in aesthetic sports and endurance sports for females. Statistically significance was also found in males only between water sport and weight-class athletes with hormone IGF-1 and the T3 hormone in females water sports compared to all other sports. Stable weight was maintained in 153 male athletes (92%) with 10 males losing weight and in 168 female athletes (91%) with 15 female with weight loss. EA was significantly lower in athletes who lost weight when compared with athletes who maintained their weight (Koehler,
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