LOW ENERGY AVAILABILITY AND RISK OF EATING DISORDERS IN FEMALE ATHLETES
Visualizações: 57DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56579/rei.v8i3.3120Keywords:
Eating Disorders, Low Energy Availability, Female Athletes, Body ImageAbstract
Low energy availability (LEA) is a critical factor in female athlete health, associated with significant physiological, metabolic, and psychological consequences. In sports valuing body aesthetics or strict weight control, LEA can result from calorie restriction, overtraining, or both, compromising hormonal, reproductive, cognitive, and immune functions. This review critically discusses evidence linking LEA and eating disorder (ED) risk in female athletes. Publications indexed between 2005 and 2024 were consulted. Findings suggest that while not all studies demonstrate statistically significant correlations between LEA and ED, consistent evidence indicates energy imbalance encourages eating behaviour changes, particularly with body dissatisfaction, performance pressure, and sociocultural influences like social media. Relevant side effects include sleep deprivation, mood swings, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and reduced bone mass. The literature highlights the need for preventive strategies emphasising nutritional education and psychological support integrated into sports planning. LEA is a multifactorial condition requiring early recognition and interdisciplinary interventions to preserve female athletes’ physical and mental well-being, especially in sports with high aesthetic or performance demands.
Downloads
References
AKMAN, C. T. et al. The effect of nutrition education sessions on energy availability, body composition, eating attitude and sports nutrition knowledge in young female endurance athletes. Frontiers in public health, [s. l.], v. 12, p. 1289448, mar. 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1289448. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38550312/
ALLISON, K. C. et al. Sleep and eating disorders. Current psychiatry reports, [s. l.], v. 18, n. 10, ago. 2016. DOI: 10.1007/s11920-016-0728-8. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27553980/
ANDRADE, A.; Bosi, M. L. M. Mídia e subjetividade: impacto no comportamento alimentar feminino. Revista de Nutrição, [s. l.], v. 16, n. 1, p. 117–125, jan. 2003. DOI: 10.1590/S1415-52732003000100012. Disponível em: https://www.scielo.br/j/rn/a/DwyJjBYbgKGMzGKTt6S3GjR/?lang=pt
AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION. Manual diagnóstico e estatístico de transtornos mentais: DSM-5. 5. ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2014.
BASKARAN, C. et al. A cross-sectional analysis of verbal memory and executive control across athletes with varying menstrual status and non-athletes. Psychiatry research, [s. l.], v. 258, p. 605–606, dec, 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.12.054. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28159335/
BEALS, K. A.; Hill, A. K. The prevalence of disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density among US collegiate athletes. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, [s. l.], v. 16, n. 1, p. 1–23, fev. 2006. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.16.1.1. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16676700/
BYRNE, S.; MCLEAN, N. ELITE ATHLETES: Effects of the pressure to be thin. Journal of science and medicine in sport, [s. l.], v. 5, n. 2, p. 80–94, jun. 2002. DOI: 10.1016/s1440-2440(02)80029-9. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12188089/
COSTA, M. B.; MELNIK, T. Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in eating disorders: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews. Einstein, [s. l.], v. 14, n. 2, p. 235–277, abr. 2016. DOI: 10.1590/S1679-45082016RW3120. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27462898/
DE SOUZA, M. J. et al. Drive for thinness score is a proxy indicator of energy deficiency in exercising women. Appetite, [s. l.], v. 48, n. 3, p. 359–367, mai, 2007. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2006.10.009. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17184880/
DEVRIM, A. et al. Is there any relationship between body image perception, eating disorders, and muscle dysmorphic disorders in male bodybuilders? American journal of men’s health, [s. l.], v. 12, n. 5, p. 1746–1758, set. 2018. DOI: 10.1177/1557988318786868. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30003837/
EL GHOCH, M. et al. Eating disorders, physical fitness and sport performance: a systematic review. Nutrients, [s. l.], v. 5, n. 12, p. 5140–5160, dez. 2013. DOI: 10.3390/nu5125140. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24352092/
GILLBANKS, L.; MOUNTJOY, M.; FILBAY, S. R. Lightweight rowers’ perspectives of living with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). PloS one, [s. l.], v. 17, n. 3, p. e0265268, mar. 2022. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265268. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35298499/
HALSON, S. L. Sleep in elite athletes and nutritional interventions to enhance sleep. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), [s. l.], v. 44, n. S1, p. 13–23, mai. 2014. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-014-0147-0. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24791913/
JAGIM, A. R. et al. Contributing factors to low energy availability in female athletes: A narrative review of energy availability, training demands, nutrition barriers, body image, and disordered eating. Nutrients, [s. l.], v. 14, n. 5, fev, 2022. DOI: 10.3390/nu14050986. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35267961/
MOUNTJOY, M. et al. The IOC consensus statement: beyond the Female Athlete Triad--Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). British journal of sports medicine, [s. l.], v. 48, n. 7, p. 491–497, abr. 2014. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093502. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24620037/
MOUNTJOY, M. et al. 2023 International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). British journal of sports medicine, [s. l.], v. 57, n. 17, p. 1073–1097, set. 2023. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106994. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37752011/
NATTIV, A. et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. The female athlete triad. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, [s. l.], v. 39, n. 10, p. 1867–1882, 2007. DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e318149f111. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17909417/
PALAGINI, L. et al. Sleep, insomnia and mental health. Journal of sleep research, [s. l.], v. 31, n. 4, abr, 2022. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13628. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35506356/
SAIFI, A. et al. Risk for low energy availability, disordered eating and sleep disturbance among female football players. Physical activity and nutrition, [s. l.], v. 28, n. 3, p. 43–51, set. 2024. DOI: 10.20463/pan.2024.0022. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39501693/
SHARPLES, A. et al. Risk of low energy availability, eating disorders and food insecurity amongst development female rugby league players. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, [s. l.], v. 64, n. 8, p. 822–830, ago. 2024. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15600-9. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38470016/
SARIN, H. V. et al. Molecular pathways mediating immunosuppression in response to prolonged intensive physical training, low-energy availability, and intensive weight loss. Frontiers in immunology, [s. l.], v. 10, p. 907, mai. 2019. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00907. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31134054/
STELLINGWERFF, T. et al. Review of the scientific rationale, development and validation of the International Olympic Committee Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport Clinical Assessment Tool: V.2 (IOC REDs CAT2)-by a subgroup of the IOC consensus on REDs. British journal of sports medicine, [s. l.], v. 57, n. 17, p. 1109–1118, set. 2023. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106914. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37752002/
STUBBS, R. J. et al. Measuring the difference between actual and reported food intakes in the context of energy balance under laboratory conditions. The British journal of nutrition, [s. l.], v. 111, n. 11, p. 2032–2043, fev. 2014. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114514000154. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24635904/
TAHERI, S. et al. Short sleep duration is associated with reduced leptin, elevated ghrelin, and increased body mass index. PLoS Medicine, [s. l.], v. 1, n. 3, p. e62, 2004. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0010062. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15602591/
TCHANTURIA, K. et al. Poor cognitive flexibility in eating disorders: Examining the evidence using the Wisconsin card sorting task. PloS one, [s. l.], v. 7, n. 1, p. e28331, jan, 2012. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0547.22. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36913639/
TORRES-MCGEHEE, T. M. et al. Energy availability, mental health, and sleep patterns of athletic trainers. Journal of athletic training, [s. l.], v. 58, n. 9, p. 788–795, set. 2023. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0547.22. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36913639/
TORRES-MCGEHEE, T. M. et al. Energy balance, eating disorder risk, and pathogenic behaviors among athletic trainers. Journal of athletic training, [s. l.], v. 56, n. 3, p. 311–320, fev. 2021. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0228-20. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33600576/
TORSTVEIT, M. K.; ROSENVINGE, J. H.; SUNDGOT-BORGEN, J. Prevalence of eating disorders and the predictive power of risk models in female elite athletes: a controlled study. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, [s. l.], v. 18, n. 1, p. 108–118, mai. 2008. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2007.00657.x. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17490455/
TORSTVEIT, M. K. et al. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs): a narrative review by a subgroup of the IOC consensus on REDs. British journal of sports medicine, [s. l.], v. 57, n. 17, p. 1119–1126, set. 2023. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106932. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37752004/
VOGEL, E. A. et al. Social comparison, social media, and self-esteem. Psychology of popular media culture, [s. l.], v. 3, n. 4, p. 206–222, ago, 2014. DOI: 10.1037/ppm0000047. Disponível em: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275507421_Social_comparison_social_media_and_self-esteem
WASSERFURTH, P. et al. Reasons for and consequences of low energy availability in female and male athletes: Social environment, adaptations, and prevention. Sports medicine, [s. l.], v. 6, n. 1, p. 44, set. 2020. DOI: 10.1186/s40798-020-00275-6. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32910256/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Interdisciplinary Studies Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies adopts the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which allows for sharing and adapting the work, including for commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given and the original publication in this journal is acknowledged.
The Creative Commons 4.0 International license allows authors to share their works with flexibility, ensuring copyright while permitting specific uses such as reproduction, distribution, and adaptation, provided that the conditions are met, such as giving credit to the original author.