La rappresentazione della donna nello scenario nutrizionale e sportivo.

The focus is how nutrition and lifestyle impact the performance of female athletes, emphasizing the unique physiological, hormonal, and metabolic considerations specific to women. Despite a significant rise in female sports participation and media attention, women remain underrepresented in sports and nutrition research, with only 32–37% of research participants being female. This has therefore led to gaps in understanding female physiology, particularly in relation to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and hormonal contraceptives. In addition, menstrual disturbances represent a common trigger for female athletes, and oral contraceptives (OCs) are often recommended as estrogen substitution. However, there is little information about the effects of OC use in athletes, and there is great concern that OCs might impair physical performance. When exploring sex-based differences in metabolism and energy requirements, it is noted that women’s energy needs fluctuate with hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Female athletes often face issues related to low energy availability (LEA), which can result from inadequate caloric intake relative to energy expenditure, leading to a range of health issues. LEA, coupled with high levels of physical activity, can disrupt reproductive health, contributing to the Female Athlete Triad; a condition that includes disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. The Female Athlete Triad has long-term consequences, such as increased risk of bone fractures, metabolic issues, and psychological effects. Carbohydrate and protein metabolism also differ between the sexes. Women rely more on fat as a fuel source, especially during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, while men tend to rely more on carbohydrates. Despite this, both sexes can benefit from tailored nutritional strategies to improve athletic performance, particularly with the right timing of macronutrient intake. Protein is especially important for muscle repair and growth, and older female athletes may need increased protein intake to counteract muscle loss and improve recovery. Considerable importance is given to individualized nutrition and training programs for women in different life stages, from young athletes dealing with menstruation to menopausal women facing changes in body composition. Special attention is given to the unique needs of female triathletes, who often require careful management of their diet, energy levels, and recovery to perform at a high level without injury. Triathlons are endurance events that involve swimming, running, and biking; indeed, they require a mix of capabilities and effort. Fueling appropriately during racing and training is important for participants of all levels. We consider fueling for triathletes not simply in terms of ingestion of specific food to produce energy, but also to include products consumed pre-racing and pretraining or during racing and training with the goal to maximize performance. Proper execution of a fuel race plan can make the difference between a personal best and fatiguing prematurely on the run or necessitating visiting the on-course bathrooms. In conclusion, it is underscored the need for more research on female athletes to optimize their performance and address their health challenges, emphasizing that generalized approaches based on male data are insufficient to meet the distinct physiological needs of women in sports.