Female Athlete Triad (FAT)….do you know what it is or what the potential health and running performance implications are of this syndrome? You are not alone…many runners, and athletes in general, have very little knowledge of FAT and how nutrition and energy availability may impact its development. So, here we update you on the current research into FAT syndrome and outline some recommended nutritional approaches to help reduce the risk of it becoming a concern for you!
A BIG thank you to our Show Sponsor AMAZING JANE ACTIVE WEAR. Please use discount code RHH10 for 10% off ALL purchases at www.amazingjane.com
SHOW NOTES
(04:03)
Outlining WHY we are talking about this subject:
(06:29)
Defining FAT, which is a syndrome that was first acknowledged in 1992. At this time, it was understood to be a condition found in girls and women and consisting of THREE interrelated conditions
(10:27)
Outlining some of the key findings from recent research into FAT Syndrome. Some of the observations include:
(15:54)
Outlining the highlights from a 2022 research paper looking at FAT in recreational runners, all of which were related to menstruation. The researchers found that female recreational runners:
(19:18)
FEMALE FACTORS
The only observation the 2022 research paper mentioned was that:
(23:19)
Highlighting some dietary and nutritional observations from the 2022 research paper on female recreational runners including: recreational runners following a “special diet” e.g. paleo, ketogenic, vegetarian showed higher incidence of amenorrhoea (absence of menstrual cycle) besides those following a “normal” diet
(35:10)
Looking at ideas and strategies to put into place to help limit the risk of FAT Syndrome becoming a concern for you including:
Think about the following questions:
• Do you frequently train and forget to eat immediately afterwards?
• Do you restrict your caloric intake to try and attain/maintain a lean physique?
• Are you under pressure to keep below a certain weight for your sport?
• Do you frequently skip meals but train hard?
If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions you may be at increased risk of suffering from LEA and falling within the realms of the FAT diagnosis
Our advice is to work with a sports nutrition professional who can guide you regarding nutrient intake to support your goals whilst still ensuring sufficient energy for your running training
(46:55)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Download our FREE E book TOP Running Snacks and Nutrient Timing to Fuel Peak Performance
Related Topics:
Performance Effects of Overtraining Syndrome
Disclaimer:
The suggestions we make during this episode are for guidance and advice only, and are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. If you have any concerns regarding your health, please contact your healthcare professional for advice as soon as possible.
A BIG thank you to our Show Sponsor AMAZING JANE ACTIVE WEAR. Please use discount code RHH10 for 10% off ALL purchases at www.amazingjane.com
Also, when you're ready, here are FOUR ways that we can help you:
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Best Wishes and Happy Running!
Karen and Aileen