fuelling the female athlete
DESCRIPTION
Dr. Vicki Harber of the University of Alberta describes the kind of nutrition female athletes build strong, resilient bodies and stave off the Female Triad: disordered eating, bone loss and dysmenorrhoea.TRANSCRIPT
Fueling the female athleteFueling the female athleteFueling the female athleteFueling the female athlete
V k H b PhDV k H b PhDVicki Harber, PhDVicki Harber, PhDFaculty of Physical Education & Faculty of Physical Education &
RecreationRecreationRecreationRecreationUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
Components of Performance
Nutrition
PhysicalPhysical TechnicalTechnical
TacticalTactical MentalMental
Sleep/Rest/Recovery
Athletic Performance
NUTRITIONNUTRITIONNUTRITIONNUTRITION
Smith DJ
…changing …changing g gg gparticipation rateparticipation rate
More sports…More sports…More opportunities…More opportunities…
FemaleFemale‐‐specific issuesspecific issuespp
Musculoskeletal issuesMusculoskeletal issues:: Medical conditionsMedical conditions::Mechanical Energetic
•• anterior cruciate anterior cruciate
Medical conditionsMedical conditions::
•• disordered eatingdisordered eating
•• menstrual irregularitiesmenstrual irregularities
Mechanical Energetic
ligament (ACL) injuriesligament (ACL) injuries•• patellofemoral joint patellofemoral joint (ili tibi l b d IT b d)(ili tibi l b d IT b d)
•• menstrual irregularitiesmenstrual irregularities
•• bone healthbone healthstress fracturesstress fractures(iliotibial band; IT band)(iliotibial band; IT band)
•• shoulder conditionsshoulder conditions•• concussionconcussion
–– stress fracturesstress fractures
–– osteopeniaosteopenia
–– osteoporosisosteoporosis•• concussionconcussion osteoporosisosteoporosis
“Injury” model
Elliot et al
Major issues for female athletesMajor issues for female athletesMajor issues for female athletesMajor issues for female athletes
Maintaining adequate:Maintaining adequate:
1. Energy balance
2 C b h d (C O)2. Carbohydrate (CHO)
3. Calcium
4. Iron
American College of Sports Medicine/American Dietetic Association of Canada American College of Sports Medicine/American Dietetic Association of Canada Joint Position Statement (2009) Nutrition and athletic performanceJoint Position Statement (2009) Nutrition and athletic performanceJoint Position Statement (2009) Nutrition and athletic performance.Joint Position Statement (2009) Nutrition and athletic performance.
What do we know about energy intake of What do we know about energy intake of hl ?hl ?athletes?athletes?
Challenge to match energy intake withChallenge to match energy intake with demands of training and requirements for daily livingdaily living
li i i d ll i ( d i• limitations to data collection (under‐reporting, under eating, deception, measurement error)
• energy intake of female athletes may be 35%‐70% of recommended intake
Energy intake: female vs maleEnergy intake: female vs male
Problems asst’d with negative genergy balance?
Numerous adverse consequences (physiological, psychological,
d l)medical):poor recovery and adaptation to trainingreduced lean body mass (muscle)increased risk of injuryreduced ability to fight infection/illnessreduced ability to fight infection/illnessreduced restorative sleeppoor performance
Reproductive disturbancesReproductive disturbances
✒delayed menarche
✒primary amenorrhea
✒secondary amenorrhea
✒ li h✒oligomenorrhea
✒subclinical (anovulation, luteal phase defects)
Bone healthBone health
Drinkwater (1990) JAMA
The impact of menstrual function on bone mass and size Menstrual function was defined as normal (≥ 10 cycles/year) versus
Ruffing et al (2007) Nutrition & Metabolism
The impact of menstrual function on bone mass and size. Menstrual function was defined as normal (≥ 10 cycles/year) versus oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea (≤ 9 cycles/year). Bone mineral density was measured at the spine, hip and heel; and at the tibia, bone mineral content, cortical thickness and endosteal circumference were determined. All values are mean ± standard errors. Subjects were military cadets (n=135)
When do problems arise??When do problems arise??
Severity and duration of deficit determines yconsequence
Impact may be immediate or take time to emerge
Why does this happen?Why does this happen?Why does this happen?Why does this happen?
Not always deliberate (busy schedule, $$, travel, etc)Not always deliberate (busy schedule, $$, travel, etc)
Sometimes deliberate, sometimes other stressors:dietary restraint (perception of constant monitoring and/or limitingdietary restraint (perception of constant monitoring and/or limiting intake to control body weight)
disordered eating (food avoidance/restriction, laxatives, etc)
eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia)
Fat phobiaFat phobia
Grade 3 girls
30% think they should be thinner
40% have tried to lose weight
Grade 6 girls
60% have tried to lose weight
80% think they should be thinner
9% are in the anorexia nervosa rangeg
Abramovitz 2000, Boyce 2008, Patton 1999
Energy balanceEnergy balance
Training andTraining andTraining and Training and competing at competing at your very best your very best requires good requires good nutritionnutrition
Athletes need to Athletes need to make smart make smart choices aboutchoices aboutchoices about choices about type, timing and type, timing and quantity of foodquantity of foodquantity of foodquantity of food
Avoid the avoidable!!Avoid the avoidable!!
ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources
International Olympic Committee Medical Commission y pPosition Stand on the Female Athlete Triad:
http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/commissions/medical/index_uk.asp
B i CM t l (2008) N ti l Athl ti T i ’Bonci CM et al (2008) National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Preventing, Detecting and Managing Disordered Eating in g g g gAthletes. J Athletic Training 43:80‐108.
Female Athlete Triad Coalition:http://www.femaleathletetriad.org/