Motivations, risks, and nutrition counseling for weight loss in athletes

Athletes often use weight lossto achieve a competitive advantage. Motivations, methods, and consequences forweight loss vary among weight class, judged, and performance athletes. Weight loss risks include chronic fatigue, amenorrhea, eating disorders, osteoporosis, and iron deficiency anemia. A dietary history and body composition analysis are used to establish baseline nutritional status, minimize health risks, and determine whether weight loss is appropriate. Probing questions are necessary to assess motivations, practices, and halth risks associated with weight loss for particular sports. Counseling about weight loss requires discussing alternatives to weight loss, explaining risks and consequences, and conveying any dietary prescription.