Low Energy Availability

Question 1

Female Athlete Triad (1997)

Answer 1

• eating disorders
• amenorrhea
• osteoporosis

Question 2

current understanding

Answer 2

• LEA
• functional hypothalamic menstrual disorders
• low bone mass

Question 3

consequences

Answer 3

• increase cortisol
• decrease blood glucose
• supress metabolic hormones
• suppress reproductive hormones
• decrease resting MPS
• alter bone turnover markers
• decrease glycogen synthesis

Question 4

causes of LEA

Answer 4

• obsessive
• restricted food access/availability
• inadvertent

Question 5

strategies to improve LEA

Answer 5

• decrease training load (replace endurance with RT)
• increase fat content
• increase energy density
• decrease fibre (25-35g/d)
• eat more regularly
• drink more energy dense fluids