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A Narrative Review on Female Physique Athletes: The Physiological and Psychological Implications of Weight Management Practices

Alwan, N, Moss, SL, Elliot-Sale, KJ, Davies, IG and Enright, KJ (2019) A Narrative Review on Female Physique Athletes: The Physiological and Psychological Implications of Weight Management Practices. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. ISSN 1526-484X

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Abstract

Physique competitions are events in which aesthetic appearance and posing ability are valued above physical performance. Female physique athletes are required to possess high lean body mass and extremely low fat mass in competition. As such, extended periods of reduced energy intake and intensive training regimens are utilised with acute weight loss practices at the end of the pre-competition phase. This represents an increased risk for chronic low energy availability and associated symptoms of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, compromising both psychological and physiological health. Available literature suggests that a large proportion of female physique athletes report menstrual irregularities (e.g., amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea), which are unlikely to normalise immediately post-competition. Furthermore, the tendency to reduce intakes of numerous essential micronutrients is prominent among those using restrictive eating patterns. Following competition reduced resting metabolic rate, and hyperphagia, are also of concern for these female athletes, which can result in frequent weight cycling, distorted body image and disordered eating/eating disorders. Overall, female physique athletes are an understudied population and the need for more robust studies to detect low energy availability and associated health effects is warranted. This narrative review aims to define the natural female physique athlete, explore some of the physiological and psychological implications of weight management practices experienced by female physique athletes and propose future research directions.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Accepted author manuscript version reprinted, by permission, from International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2019, :https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0037. © Human Kinetics, Inc.
Uncontrolled Keywords: 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Q Science > QP Physiology
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions: Sport Studies, Leisure & Nutrition (closed 31 Aug 19)
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Date Deposited: 06 Jun 2019 10:08
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2021 09:19
DOI or ID number: 10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0037
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/10842
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