Need To Feed

We May Be Exercising Enough, But Are We Getting Enough To Eat? Erin Fisher Finds Out.

- Erin Fisher

As the wellness scene has picked up speed, there is new information about diets, workouts and weight loss secrets emerging every week. People often talk about wanting to slim down, hit the gym, eat less or even cut out a food group, and many seek applause on social media for their toned physiques and unwavering commitment to nutrition and fitness. But does healthy ever become unhealthy, and where is the line?

Dr Katherine Black from the University of Otago has been studying nutrition and exercise in females, and believes parents, coaches, athletes and the general population all need to be more aware of the risks of undereating, and eat in a way that is adequate for their energy requirements.

Recommendations to eat less and exercise more may be well-meaning and sometimes beneficial, but Dr Black explains that women following this advice can run the risk of developing low energy availability, which can be damaging for health in the long term.

Low energy availability (LEA) is a condition where you’re not eating sufficient amounts of food to meet the requirements of the exercise that you’re doing. You no longer have enough energy to fuel your body’s basic physiological functions and as a result, hormones can change and some of your normal bodily processes can slow down, or even come to a complete halt.