AMSSM Exchange Lecture - Sports Nutrition-AMSSM Exchange Lecture

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Ackerman gave a presentation on the topic of sports nutrition for female athletes. She highlighted the lack of research on female athletes in the field of nutrition, with most studies focusing on men. She discussed the importance of studying female athletes and the challenges involved, such as considering the phase of the menstrual cycle and other hormonal factors. Dr. Ackerman explained the concept of the female athlete triad, which consists of low energy availability or eating disorders, amenorrhea or absence of menstrual periods, and low bone density. She noted that up to 78% of high school varsity female athletes have one or more components of the triad. Dr. Ackerman also discussed the concept of relative energy deficiency in sport (REDS) , which expands on the triad and includes additional health and performance consequences of low energy availability. She highlighted the hormonal changes and negative effects on bone, metabolism, and performance associated with REDS. Dr. Ackerman provided general nutritional recommendations for female athletes, including appropriate energy intake, protein and carbohydrate requirements, and key micronutrients such as iron and calcium. She emphasized the importance of individualization based on factors such as training intensity, menstrual cycle phase, and other medical considerations. Dr. Ackerman concluded by advocating for more funding and research on female athletes' nutrition to better understand and meet their specific needs.

Keywords

sports nutrition

female athletes

research

female athlete triad

REDS

nutritional recommendations

micronutrients

individualization