Disordered Eating Impairs Athletic Performance

Eating too little compared to your training needs:

• Wastes training time

• Depresses metabolic rate

When Energy & fluid intake are low, athletes experience...

1. Poor training benefit

• Energy is too low to meet training demands
• Carbohydrate intake is too low to recovery optimally from training
• Fluid intake is too low to rehydrate optimally after training
• Performance has minimal or no improvement

    2. Early Fatigue

• Low levels of muscle glycogen limit capacity for high intensity exercise
• Dehydration limits exercise capacity & impairs temperature regulation
• Low iron stores increase risk of anemia & compromise work capacity

    3. Reduced muscle strength, muscle endurance, speed, and coordination

• Weight loss reduces muscle mass
• Muscle is broken down to provide fuel for movement
• Less able to meet training demands

    4. Low blood sugar

• Less able to concentrate
• Poor judgment & decision making ability
• Feelings of hunger, tiredness, lightheadedness

    5. Increased risk of injury & illness

• Stress fractures
• Respiratory illnesses

    6. Extended recovery time after injury or illness

    7. May experience feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and irritability

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