Adherence
Resistance-trained female athletes exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of calorie tracking (64.6%) compared to the general population, with competitive athletes tracking more frequently (71.8%) than recreational athletes.
If you are a female strength athlete, you are likely tracking calories more than the average person. This is normal for your sport. However, be aware that if you have a history of eating disorders, this tool can reinforce restrictive behaviors. Monitor your mental relationship with the data, not just the numbers.
64.6% (n = 469) of participants reported tracking calories, with a slightly higher percentage of competitive athletes tracking calories 71.8% (n = 181) than recreational-level athletes. Competitive athletes were significantly more likely to track calories than recreational-level athletes (p = 0.003).
Why this rating
Cross-sectional survey data with self-reported measures; lacks objective verification of tracking accuracy.
Source
The associations between calorie tracking, body image dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and menstrual cycle characteristics in resistance-trained athletes
Kimberly SantaBarbara et al. · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2024
DOI 10.1080/15502783.2024.2433743
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- Body Image Dissatisfaction (BID) is significantly associated with menstrual cycle-based mental health effects (anxiety and depression), but not with physical menstrual characteristics like cycle length or regularity.Moderate
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