Special nutritional concerns for the female athlete.
Inadequate dietary intake is the primary nutritional concern of today's female athlete. As these athletes fail to consume enough energy to support the physical demands of training, they become at risk for disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis, conditions collectively identified as the female athlete triad. This review addresses nutritional concerns of the female athlete, identification of those at risk, relationship of energy intake to menstrual irregularities, and recently identified chronic diseases associated with the female athlete triad. Strategies are offered to prevent harmful behaviors leading to the comorbidities associated with inadequate dietary intakes.
Gabel
Kathe A
KA
School of Family and Consumer Sciences,College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho,875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844-3183, USA. kgabel@uidaho.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015519:Bone Density; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports