Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review

Physique athletes strive for low body fat with high lean mass and have higher body image and eating disorder rates than the general population, and even other weightlifting populations. Whether athletes with a background or tendency to develop these issues are drawn to the sport, or whether it drive...

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Main Authors: Eric R. Helms, Katarina Prnjak, Jake Linardon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
Series:Sports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/7/7/172
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author Eric R. Helms
Katarina Prnjak
Jake Linardon
author_facet Eric R. Helms
Katarina Prnjak
Jake Linardon
author_sort Eric R. Helms
collection DOAJ
description Physique athletes strive for low body fat with high lean mass and have higher body image and eating disorder rates than the general population, and even other weightlifting populations. Whether athletes with a background or tendency to develop these issues are drawn to the sport, or whether it drives these higher incidences, is unknown. However, the biological drive of cyclical energy restriction may contribute to binge-eating behavior. Additionally, requisite monitoring, manipulation, comparison, and judgement of one’s physique may contribute to body image concerns. Contest preparation necessitates manipulating body composition through energy restriction and increased expenditure, requiring dietary restraint and nutrition, exercise, and physique assessment. Thus, competitors are at mental health risk due to (1) pre-existing or predispositions to develop body image or eating disorders; (2) biological effects of energy restriction on eating psychology; and (3) dietary restraint attitudes and resultant physique, exercise, and nutrition monitoring behavior. In our narrative review we cover each factor, concluding with tentative best-practice recommendations, including dietary flexibility, slower weight loss, structured monitoring, gradual returns to offseason energy intakes, internal eating cues, appropriate offseason body compositions, and support from nutrition and mental health professionals. A mental health focus is a needed paradigm shift in bodybuilding nutrition practice and research.
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spelling doaj.art-cda1cb6bebf3468e80b6a6cd71f70a382022-12-22T02:52:55ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632019-07-017717210.3390/sports7070172sports7070172Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative ReviewEric R. Helms0Katarina Prnjak1Jake Linardon2Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Faculty of Health and Environmental Science, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New ZealandSports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Faculty of Health and Environmental Science, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New ZealandSchool of Psychology, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, VIC 3220, AustraliaPhysique athletes strive for low body fat with high lean mass and have higher body image and eating disorder rates than the general population, and even other weightlifting populations. Whether athletes with a background or tendency to develop these issues are drawn to the sport, or whether it drives these higher incidences, is unknown. However, the biological drive of cyclical energy restriction may contribute to binge-eating behavior. Additionally, requisite monitoring, manipulation, comparison, and judgement of one’s physique may contribute to body image concerns. Contest preparation necessitates manipulating body composition through energy restriction and increased expenditure, requiring dietary restraint and nutrition, exercise, and physique assessment. Thus, competitors are at mental health risk due to (1) pre-existing or predispositions to develop body image or eating disorders; (2) biological effects of energy restriction on eating psychology; and (3) dietary restraint attitudes and resultant physique, exercise, and nutrition monitoring behavior. In our narrative review we cover each factor, concluding with tentative best-practice recommendations, including dietary flexibility, slower weight loss, structured monitoring, gradual returns to offseason energy intakes, internal eating cues, appropriate offseason body compositions, and support from nutrition and mental health professionals. A mental health focus is a needed paradigm shift in bodybuilding nutrition practice and research.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/7/7/172bodybuildingphysiquepsychologybinge-eatingbody imageeating disordernutritionmuscle hypertrophybody composition
spellingShingle Eric R. Helms
Katarina Prnjak
Jake Linardon
Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review
Sports
bodybuilding
physique
psychology
binge-eating
body image
eating disorder
nutrition
muscle hypertrophy
body composition
title Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review
title_full Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review
title_fullStr Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review
title_full_unstemmed Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review
title_short Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review
title_sort towards a sustainable nutrition paradigm in physique sport a narrative review
topic bodybuilding
physique
psychology
binge-eating
body image
eating disorder
nutrition
muscle hypertrophy
body composition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/7/7/172
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AT katarinaprnjak towardsasustainablenutritionparadigminphysiquesportanarrativereview
AT jakelinardon towardsasustainablenutritionparadigminphysiquesportanarrativereview