Nordic walking improved anthropometric measurements and exercise capacity. However, unsupervised Nordic walking may not provide a sufficient increase in exercise intensity to achieve ultimate health-promoting benefits on the cardiovascular parameters assessed in this study, particularly for those with disturbed glucose regulation.

Female endurance athletes are considered a high-risk group for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Due to the lack of educational and behavioral intervention studies, targeting and evaluating the effects of the practical daily management of REDs, we developed the Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes—a Learning (FUEL) program, consisting of 16 weekly online lectures and individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week. We recruited female endurance athletes from Norway (n = 60), Sweden (n = 84), Ireland (n = 17), and Germany (n = 47). Fifty athletes with symptoms of REDs and with low risk of eating disorders, with no use of hormonal contraceptives and no chronic diseases, were allocated to either the FUEL intervention (n = 32) (FUEL) or a 16-week control period (n = 18) (CON). All but one completed FUEL, while 15 completed CON. We found strong evidence for improvements in sports nutrition knowledge, assessed via interviews, and moderate to strong evidence in the ratings concerning self-perceived sports nutrition knowledge in FUEL versus CON. Analyses of the seven-day prospective weighed food record and questions related to sports nutrition habits, suggested weak evidence for improvements in FUEL versus CON. The FUEL intervention improved sports nutrition knowledge and suggested weak evidence for improved sports nutrition behavior in female endurance athletes with symptoms of REDs.

Background. Sun exposure is the main driver of vitamin D synthesis. High latitude, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are all risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. However, the seasonal variation in vitamin D concentrations (25[OH]D) in such populations before and after sun exposure during the summer is unknown. Therefore, we investigated 25[OH]D status before and after two consecutive summers in high latitude and its associations with body fat, sex, and glucose metabolism. Methods. 158 participants from Sweden (87 women, 71 men; mean age, 60 ± 5 y; body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) and 25[OH]D were measured and evaluated in relation to normal or impaired glucose tolerance, body composition, and dietary habits during summer season. Results. Eighty-four percent of the participants were categorized with low to deficient 25[OH]D values before summer (55.1 ± 21.7 nmol·L−1), with a significant increase after the summer season (66.3 ± 21.0 nmol·L−1; P<0.001). However, the values remained below the recommended range (76–250 nmol·L−1) in 66% of the participants. These findings were verified in a subgroup of the study population during the subsequent summer. Participants who reported use of vitamin D supplements had higher initial concentrations (64.2 ± 20.1 nmol·L−1) compared to nonusers (53.7 ± 21.7 nmol·L−1; P=0.04). Further, 25[OH]D values correlated negatively with fat mass (kg) prior to summer only in the female population (r=−0.29, P=0.008). Conclusions. In the present study, sun exposure had a beneficial but insufficient effect on 25[OH]D levels, and the same levels were documented in two consecutive summer seasons, confirming that vitamin D supplementation in both summer and winter should be considered in this population.

BACKGROUND: Disordered eating (DE) behaviors are relatively common among high-level dancers, especially in classical ballet. At the same time, interventions aimed at reducing DE behaviors in this population are scarce. METHODS: An 8-week exploratory preventive intervention for DE behaviors was carried out in a high-level ballet school for 40 teenagers aged 12–15 years (77.5% female). Both risk factors (perfectionism) and potentially protective factors (self-esteem, self-compassion) for the development of DE behaviors were considered. The intervention was created specifically for this study and consisted of five cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) workshops and four nutrition workshops. Additional components included newsletters for pupils and educational sessions and social media interactions with staff and parents. The intervention comprised two phases (control and intervention periods), with students acting as their own controls. Standardized questionnaires were completed before and after both phases. RESULTS: Questionnaire results did not indicate any changes in reported perfectionism, self-esteem, or self-compassion, nor were symptoms of DE affected during either the control or intervention periods. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention did not yield any discernible impact. However, it was affected by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which limits our ability to draw conclusions about intervention effectiveness. Evaluations with pupils offer several considerations for future improvements.