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Cited by 59Eating Disorders and BehaviorsSports Performance and TrainingHypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Low Energy Availability in Exercising Women: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

Slater, Joanne, Brown, Rachel, McLay-Cooke, Rebecca, Black, Katherine·2017·Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1007/s40279-016-0583-0
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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 associated health consequences will aid development of more effective prevention, early detection and treatment strategies.

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  • Athletes are at a greater risk for LEA from sociocultural pressures, such as social media pressures, pressures from coaches/teammates/self to look a certain way, or from the prevailing belief that a lower body weight will result in greater performance outcomes.

    “Athletes are at a greater risk for LEA from sociocultural pressures, such as social media pressures, pressures from coaches/teammates/self to look a certain way, or from the prevailing belief that a lower body weight will result in greater performance outcomes [122–125].”

    From International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutritional concerns of the female athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [123]

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Authors
Slater, J., Brown, R., McLay-Cooke, R., & Black, K.
Affiliations
University of Otago (NZ)
Corresponding author
Black, Katherine
ORCID
Venue
Sports Medicine
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2016-07-18
Volume
47
Issue
2
Pages
207-220
ISSN
  • 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
  • 1179-2035
DOI
10.1007/s40279-016-0583-0
OpenAlex
W2506280098
Cited by
59
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5
FWCI
0.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (unspecified)
Locations
  • Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
Keywords
low energy availability, female athlete triad, relative energy deficiency in sport, female athletes, menstrual disorders, bone health, lipid profile, hormonal changes, male athletes, youth athletes, prevention and treatment
MeSH terms
Amenorrhea, Cross-Sectional Studies, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Sports, Exercise, Bone Density, Female Athlete Triad Syndrome, Athletes

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