Female athletes competing in competitive sports have a higher risk for developing an eating disorder. Pressure to succeed can start as early as eight years old and that pressure can lead to future issues. These issues may lead to eating disorders, osteoporosis, and disruption of menstruation. New research has proven that increasing calorie intake can offset these issues as most of the problems stem from athletes burning more calories than they take in. This way, serious athletes can continue to train and compete without the harsh side effects.