Low-calorie diets could be putting female athletes at risk for stress fractures, according to new research in The American Journal of Sports Medicine. The researchers, from Saint Louis University, said that women with insufficient caloric intake were more likely to develop stress fractures as a result of decreased estrogen production. "When people expend more calories than they consume, they release fewer hormones, which slows down menstrual cycles. This decreases estrogen in the body, which is responsible for bone development," explained researcher Mark Reinking.
Besides fractures, low calorie diets could also cause other problems, such as exercise-related leg pain. Although it is often thought to be related to external factors such as training volume, playing/training surface or footwear, there is little scientific evidence to support these elements as risk factors for leg pain. Rather, internal factors such as excessive foot pronation, menstrual function and bone mineral density have been found to be associated with this condition.
Leg pain is one of the most common problems afflicting athletes, Reinking said, adding that; "The history and incidence data from this study support the notion that leg pain is common among female athletes." Risk factors for exercise-related leg pain were a prior history of the condition, disordered eating and excessive pronation (a rolling inwards) of the foot.
Three-quarters of the female athletes in the study reported a history of leg pain, with cross-country runners having the highest percentage (94 percent) and soccer players the lowest (55 percent). All athletes were then monitored for leg pain during one intercollegiate sports season. Of the 76 athletes, 26 percent experienced leg pain during the season, all of whom had reported prior leg pain. The athletes who developed stress fractures had more abnormal scores on the eating behavior questionnaire and also showed decreased bone mineral density, findings suggestive of disordered eating.
Source: Saint Louis University
