What has research taught us about why so many female athletes do not eat enough? ANSWER: There seem to be four origins of low energy availability. Two originate outside of sport. Some athletes undereat obsessively as part of an eating disorder. Because eating disorders have one of the highest rates of premature death of all men tal illnesses, sports programs should institute procedures for identifying cases of eating disorders referring them for psychiatric care, and excluding them from participation until they receive medical clearance. Other athletes undereat in intentional efforts to improve appearance for social reasons. World wide, at all deciles of BMI, about as many young women as young men perceive themselves to be overweight, and the multiple of young women more than young men who are actively trying to lose weight increases to 5-9 times as BMI declines! Indeed, more athletes report improving appearance than improving performance as a reason for dieting.