Written by guest blogger Emma L’Esperance, nutrition student at Simmons University
After listening to sports nutritionist Nancy Clark’s seminar on weight loss and athletes, the main comment that stood out to me was, “Is weight the problem or the symptom.” As she said this, I started thinking about what she meant. Upon reflection, I recognized that concerns about gaining weight are a small fraction of the main picture. The reason for the weight gain may be deeper than what meets the eye.
For example, an athlete may not be giving themselves what they need to succeed. Under intense physical stress, hormones can become imbalanced which increases cortisol; this can lead to weight gain. When more cortisol, due to stress, is released, the body tends to produce extra insulin (Dalrymple, 2024). This insulin that is released allows sugar to enter the cells. The sugar that is not used by the body becomes fat (Mayo Clinic, 2023).).
Even with enough calories, if an athlete does not get enough essential nutrients, their metabolism may be affected. The body goes into survival mode and the rate of calories that are burned slows down, contributing to fatigue and difficulty with weight loss.
Finally, sleep can play a large role in hormone levels and hunger levels. Poor sleep affects hunger hormones such as leptin and ghrelin- decreasing leptin, the hormone that signals satiety, and increasing ghrelin, the hormone that gives the hunger sensation.
When we start to view weight gain as a symptom, we can observe what the true cause of the weight gain may be. Minor aspects of our life that we do not often think about can contribute to this symptom of weight gain. Athletes should assess their training regimen and ensure that they feel rested enough throughout training sessions and that they are not over-training. Sleep is another aspect that athletes can sometimes fall behind on- athletes must ensure they get enough sleep in order to perform at their best. To feel healthy and strong, athletes must care for their bodies instead of neglecting them.
Emma L’Esperance, former competitive figure skater, and nutrition student at Simmons University
References
Dalrymple, K. (2024a). Does stress cause weight gain? Retrieved from https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/does-stress-cause-weight-gain
Insulin and weight gain: Keep the pounds off. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/insulin-and-weight-gain/art-20047836