Which athletes are at a higher risk of reducing fat intake?

Female athletes are often at a higher risk of reducing fat intake due to several factors. Societal pressures and dieting trends may influence female athletes to believe that lower fat intake is necessary for performance or body image. Additionally, certain sports emphasize body composition, leading female athletes to adopt restrictive eating patterns that limit fat consumption. This is concerning because fats are essential for hormone production, energy, and overall health.

Endurance athletes may require strategic nutrient timing that can sometimes unintentionally lead to reduced fat intake, but this isn't specifically tied to their gender. Male athletes and team sport athletes, while they may have their own dietary considerations, generally have different body image pressures and dietary practices, often maintaining a more balanced intake of macronutrients, including fats. Thus, the specific cultural and societal influences faced by female athletes make them particularly vulnerable to lowering their fat intake.