Following puberty women tend to hav

Following puberty women tend to have a higher
percentage of body fat compared to men largely due to
the role played by the female hormone oestrogen. This
additional body fat does not seem to offer any advantage
in weight-supported sport such as running as the extra fat
does not contribute to muscle power. The extra fat
however is an advantage in other sports such as long
distance swimming, where the adipose tissue (fat) creates
a layer of insulation and improves buoyancy. It is
important to remember that a minimum level of body fat is
essential for maintaining normal physiological function and
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COACHING IRELAND THE LUCOZADE SPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMME NUTRITION
although low body fat levels may be advantageous in
some sports there is a large range of body fat levels that
are considered healthy and that will not adversely affect
performance.