How do ATLAS and ATHENA differ?
The reasons young men and women use performance-enhancing and body-shaping drugs and alcohol differ, so much of the content of ATLAS and ATHENA are gender-specific. ATLAS and ATHENA target those risk and protective factors that are either more relevant to young males or more useful to young women. For example, the nutrition portions of ATLAS focus on the protein and calorie needs for the young male athletes who are at risk for using performance-enhancing drugs to become bigger and stronger. Because discussions of calories can place a focus on body weight, it can stimulate unhealthy eating practices for young women athletes. Therefore, ATHENA focuses on the protein and calcium needs for young women’s muscles and bone strength.
