"Before I had a nutritionist, I was definitely under-fuelling," Australian 54kg boxing champion Tiana Echegaray told ABC Sport.
Echegaray only started the sport in 2019, but after linking up with a sports dietician, she began to understand proper nutrition."Under-fuelling or under consumption of total energy to meet demands is probably one of the key issues I see for all athletes," New South Wales Institute of Sport Sports dietician Holly Edstein told ABC Sport.
Ms Edstein says it can affect all athletes, regardless of gender, though women are more likely to be iron deficient, and some of the red flags, like irregular menstrual cycles, are easier to spot.While elite athletes usually have access to sports dieticians, for sub-elite, recreational, and younger athletes, it's a lot harder to find the right information.
"I'm trying to be organised every week doing a lot of meal prepping, sticking to particular portion sizes. Echegaray admits in sports like boxing, there is a danger of developing an unhealthy relationship with food.