Gender-specific issues

Abstract

Gender-specific differences in body composition and body size are well documented and mainly due to hormonal differences. Women benefit from physical training in the same way as men do. Regarding substrate utilization during exercise, females seem to exhibit a greater ability to utilize fat as a substrate resulting in a glycogen sparing effect. This may indicate a greater ability for endurance exercise. High levels of aerobic activity coupled with an insufficient energy intake, will result in a rapid loss of body mass and amenorrhea, a loss of calcium from bone tissue and the development of early osteoporosis. Nutritional advice for athletes of both sexes is very much the same, except that females require more iron and calcium.