#undereating

[therealieblog]

“Both overeating and under-eating for a long period of time have serious effects. Knowledge about the effects of under-eating and underweight have come from many sources, such as studies of the effects of famine and concentration camp victims, as well as research studies into the effects of food restraint in animals and humans. Consistent findings have emerged. This means that whatever reasons you have for restricting food, you would experience the same adverse effects no matter what you weigh. In her book Sick Enough, The Medical Complications of Under-Eating, Dr Gaudiani describes how the cave-person brain works to help us live. This is the part of our brain that runs aspects of our physiology which is out of our control; our metabolism, heart, temperature regulation, heart rate, digestion and hormones. This part of our brain has evolved to help us survive common famine conditions that our ancestors had to cope with. Starvation can mean a lot of things, not just having insufficient calories. Starvation can include deficiencies in minerals, protein and the fats which our brain uses to function properly. Most of us get our needs met over time, we don’t have to eat a perfect diet every day because much of what sustains us is held in reserve. But the stores can run dry in just a few days. This will make the cave-brain kick into action to save us. The cave-brain response differs from one person to another. But the common ways that the brain tries to conserve energy and vital nutrients will cause very predictable physical sensations such as chilliness, restlessness, cold hands and feet, poor skin, slowed digestion and digestive pains, slowed heart rate, reduction in essential hormones and poor metabolism. This has a big effect on our emotional well-being, how we feel and how we think. 

https://eating-disorders.org.uk/information/the-effects-of-under-eating/

[arcacestar]

positive daily reminder to eat sensibly, you don't have to eat a whole plate or stick to a strict diet every day

I need to hear it or think it every so often, others do too, eat as much as you can handle and not just what everyone expects you to

[alph4betti-spaghetti]

Mom keeps trying to increase my intake by suggesting I bulk up my meals with extra food... She knows I AM eating, she seems to think not enough though. I’ve always got my heater on and have cold hands and feet. I told her I’m having enough, sometimes more than enough -with these mini binges I go on, but she said I look skinny and need ‘feeding up with some proper food’. I do look a bit weak, I guess. I haven’t weighed myself in a while. I’m too depressed to care about my weight. As long as I don’t feel fat, I’m alright not knowing for the moment. Mentally - not doin’ so good lately.

[thecpdiary]

Running on Empty: Undereating and Exercise Risk Injury

When it comes to exercise, there is a powerful link between how we nourish our bodies and how they perform, especially under pressure. While most runners are familiar with the physical demands of long-distance running, fewer are aware of how deeply those demands are tied to the choices they make at the table.

Research: University of South Australia

New research out of the University of South Australia is shedding light on just how critical proper nutrition is—not only for performance and recovery – but for reducing the risk of injury through exercise. And the findings speak especially to female runners.

In a review of nearly 6,000 adult distance runners, the study found that those with lower energy and fat intake were significantly more likely to be injured. In particular, injured female runners were found to be consuming around 450 fewer calories and 20 grams less fat each day than their uninjured counterparts. That’s a striking difference. It speaks to something many of us intuitively understand, but often push aside in pursuit of goals: the body cannot give what it doesn’t receive.

The research also identified a link between low fibre intake and an increased risk of bone stress injuries – this time in both male and female runners. While differences in protein, carbohydrate, calcium, and alcohol intake didn’t seem to factor into injury risk, energy, fat, and fibre stood out as crucial components.

Sports dietitian: Erin Colebatch

Sports dietitian Erin Colebatch, one of the study’s authors, explains that distance running – though widely embraced as a healthful habit – comes with its share of risks. Around 50% of adult runners will experience running-related injuries. And under-fuelling, especially when the body is under stress, makes recovery harder and injuries more likely. It’s a quiet, ongoing erosion: the kind we might not see in the moment, but that builds over time – subtly undermining our strength and resilience.

Conclusion: Dr Alison Hill

Senior researcher Dr Alison Hill emphasises the importance of clinicians supporting runners, particularly women, in meeting their unique energy and fat needs. Without enough fuel, the body begins to draw on its own reserves – weakening bone, lean muscle, and eventually, spirit. The driving force behind what we do.

What’s striking about this study isn’t just the data – it’s the deeper truth. That our bodies are not machines to be pushed past their limits, but finely tuned instruments needing care, attention, and nourishment. That strength begins not in the sprint, but in the stillness before it, in the decisions we make each day to respect the body we're in. Bodies need the right fuel. So the question remains, not just for athletes, but for all of us: are we giving our bodies what they truly need? Or are we asking too much while offering too little? (Source: sciencedaily.com)

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