Gender Statement

I’ve spent the last 25 years of my career focusing on sex differences and the impact these differences have on girls and women. However, it’s hugely important to me that we also discuss the differences between sex and gender in an inclusive way.

I have always been motivated by a desire to help as many people as possible understand the unique physiological characteristics associated with female sex—whether that’s women and girls directly, or the people who work with and support them in their pursuit of optimal health and performance. However, I also acknowledge that the experience of being a woman, or of identifying with female sex, may mean different things to different people.

In all of my content, I use the terms “girls,” “women,” and “female.” However, I understand that these terms can refer to sex, gender, or both. And this is where the difference between sex and gender becomes important to highlight.

Sex refers to the biological and physical characteristics that typically differentiate male and female bodies, usually assigned at birth based on external anatomy (e.g., genitals) and chromosomes (XX for female, XY for male). While sex is often classified into two categories—male and female—intersex people may have a combination of traits that do not fit strictly within this binary.

Gender is a more complex combination of social, cultural, and psychological roles, behaviors, and identities. It can be fluid and diverse, often viewed as a spectrum. People may identify as male, female, both, neither, or somewhere in between. Unlike sex, which is typically understood as biologically based, gender is shaped by personal, societal, and cultural factors.

For many people, biological sex aligns with their gender identity. For example, someone assigned male at birth may grow up identifying as a man (often referred to as cisgender). However, for those whose biological sex and gender identity don’t align—such as a person assigned female at birth who identifies as a man—terms like transgender and gender non-binary are used, and these identities are valid and important to recognize.

In all of my content—whether in my courses, articles, or social media posts—when I use the terms “female,” “women,” and “girls,” unless otherwise stated, I am referring to sex, specifically people who were assigned female at birth and typically have two XX chromosomes. These individuals were raised as girls and now identify as women. However, I am very aware that many people’s experiences do not fit into this traditional binary classification.

There is also a need for more research into sports nutrition and performance for trans women and trans men, particularly those whose puberty trajectories have been modified by exogenous hormone therapy. Furthermore, research on adults who begin gender-affirming therapies later in life is crucial. Most transgender research to date has focused on the health and medical impacts of these therapies, but more attention is needed to address how these treatments impact physical performance.

As I continue to monitor the evolving research landscape, I am committed to ensuring that my work reflects and includes as much health and performance-related information as possible for all people—across the full spectrum of sex and gender identities.