ST. LOUIS -- Women athletes watching their waistlines could be more susceptible to leg pain and stress fractures, a small study says.

An earlier post along this line:

***1000-1200 calories is not enough intake for even a sedentary person. The average person needs around 2000. More if you are being active or training.***

New research suggests that this is not the case at all. In one of the more recent "bio-dome" studies conducted in the US, participants were unable to produce (grow) enough food to achieve the usual 2000 calorie/day level assumed to be required for normal health. They only achieved about 800-1000 calories/day, and, after 2 or 3 months of eating this diet (which was composed of low-cal foods with very high nutritional content otherwise), they experienced a dramatic reduction in chronic health problems associated with diet. I'm talking blood pressure, cholesterol, and general "feeling" of health. Members of the study have largely chosen to remain on this diet after the study.

This event has lead to calorie-health studies with mice/rats that have affirmed the bio-dome results. Mice fed 1/2 the usual "accepted" caloric requirement (but still, very high-nutritional content food) live dramatically longer lives, statistically speaking. The observed and validated reason for this is that increased calories also equal increased consumption of free-radicals, and associated cell damage caused by free-radicals.

Most of us in the Western world feel "hungry" if not eating 2000+ calories/day, however this is in-part because our bodies have adjusted to processing this amount of food. Sugars especially, have a dramatic effect on the body's perceived need for sustenance. Most of the developed world is fully addicted to massive doses of sugar, and sugars account for a significant amount of the usual 2000 calorie/day "requirement". On the other hand, many people in the developing world are physically fit (athletically speaking), and could easily out-perform any of us in terms of athletic ability, day-in day-out, while consuming half the calories that we do. Of course, most of the developing world has poor health care and/or less than ideal nutitional content/calorie as well.

It should be noted that the bio-dome participants were not undergoing any sort of intense physical activities, other than possibly stretching. It should be common sense, that, if you routinely lift weights, climb, bike long distances, etc., you will accelerate the rate at which you use calories and must account for that.

The point I am trying to make is that "caloric requirement" is largely a subjective and arbitrary mark, based largely on societal eating habitats instead of on genuine physical need. Other new evidence suggests that our genetic heritage plays a large role in this as well. (For instance, if you are caucasion, it has been suggested that you are genetically adapted to large meals AND to heavy workloads........Genetic heritages originating in the tropics show the opposite trend......the tropical environment contributes to "unhealthier working conditions" and thus, slower metabolisms (ever tried to "work-out" in 110 degree heat and near 100% humidity over a lifetime? It is no myth that our genetics determine, in part, our caloric needs).

The real message is to choose foods that have very high nutritional content/calorie, and ignore foods that don't have these qualities. Sugar is most likely the worst "bad guy", in that none of us are truly adapted to refined sugar. If, you are physically active and remain hungry or lethargic after eating a quality diet, increase your intake of starches and proteins, and continue to avoid simple sugars..........

There's more than 2 cents, and I don't mean to over-simplify the discussion at all. However, it is very likely that a small woman does not need to eat more than 1200 calories per day to remain healthy. If she wants to build muscle mass, or exert herself dramatically, the caloric requirement changes......

From expereince, voimiting does work, at least to lose weight, as do laxitives, as long as you do not binge as well. Binge and purge, in the long run, will result in weight gain.