Low Energy Availability in Exercising Women: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions
- PDF / 509,735 Bytes
- 14 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 69 Downloads / 131 Views
REVIEW ARTICLE
Low Energy Availability in Exercising Women: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions Joanne Slater1 • Rachel Brown1 • Rebecca McLay-Cooke1 • Katherine Black1
Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
Abstract Research on the health of female athletes has developed substantially over the past 50 years. This review aims to provide an overview of this research and identify directions for future work. While early cross-sectional studies focused primarily on menstruation, research has progressed to now encompass hormonal changes, bone health and lipid profiles. The seminal work of Loucks and colleagues distinguished that these health concerns were due to low energy availability (LEA) rather than exercise alone. LEA occurs when the body has insufficient energy available to meet the needs of training and normal physiological functioning. While there appears to be agreement that LEA is the underlying cause of this syndrome, controversy regarding terminology has emerged. Originally coined the female athlete triad (Triad), some researchers are now advocating the use of the term relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). This group argues that the term Triad excludes male athletes who also have the potential to experience LEA and its associated negative impact on health and performance. At present, implications of LEA among male athletes are poorly understood and should form the basis of future research. Other directions for future research include determination of the prevalence and long-term risks of LEA in junior and developmental athletes, and the development of standardised tools to diagnose LEA. These tools are required to aid comparisons between studies and to develop treatment strategies to attenuate the long-term health consequences of LEA. Continued advances in knowledge on LEA and its & Katherine Black [email protected] 1
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
associated health consequences will aid development of more effective prevention, early detection and treatment strategies.
Key Points Research on low energy availability (LEA) and the associated health of athletes has developed substantially over the past 50 years. There is agreement that LEA is the underlying cause of a series of adverse health outcomes, although controversy among researchers regarding terminology exists. Continued research and knowledge of LEA and associated health consequences will aid development of more effective prevention, early detection and treatment strategies.
1 Introduction Historically, women were viewed as somewhat delicate creatures and as a consequence were not encouraged to engage in sport. However, as women were required to take on numerous physically demanding jobs during the two world wars, and as the feminist movement developed during the 1960s and 1970s, there was an increasing acceptance of female participation in sport. As the prevalence of female involvement in sport grew, concern regarding the specific health needs of fem
Data Loading...
