Female Recreational Exercisers at Risk for Low Energy Availability

Slater, Joanne; McLay-Cooke, Rebecca T.; Brown, Rachel; Black, Katherine

doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0245

Cited by 48 publications

(54 citation statements)

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“…The current study’s findings are in line with the first study of prevalence for low EA in female recreational athletes, conducted by Slater et al [23]. These investigators found that 45.0% ( n = 49) of participants were categorized as being at risk of low EA.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence of Low Energy Availability in Competitively Trained Male Endurance Athletes

et al. 2019

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Background and Objectives: Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) has been introduced as a broad-spectrum syndrome leading to possible dysfunction in numerous physiological systems, driven primarily by low energy availability (EA). Research in females has identified specific EA cut-points indicative of risk level for developing physiological and performance disturbances. Cut-points in males have yet to be evaluated. This study examined the prevalence of low EA in competitive (non-elite), recreationally trained (CRT) male endurance athletes. Materials and Methods: Subjects were 108 CRT (38.6 ± 13.8 y; 12.2 ± 5.4 h/wk training) male endurance athletes (runners, cyclists, triathletes) who completed a descriptive survey online via Qualtrics® and returned 3 day diet and exercise training records. EA was calculated from returned surveys and training records. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and lean body mass (LBM) were estimated from self-reported survey data. Prevalence of risk group was categorized based on the female cut-points: At risk (AR) ≤30 kcal/kg LBM, moderate risk (MR) = 30–45 kcal/kg LBM, or no risk (NR) ≥45 kcal/kg LBM. Results: In this sample, 47.2% (n = 51) were classified as AR, 33.3% (n = 36) as MR, and 19.4% (n = 21) as NR for low EA. Cyclists had lower EA (26.9 ± 17.4 kcal/kg LBM, n = 45) than runners (34.6 ± 13.3 kcal/kg LBM, n = 55, p = 0.016) and all other sport categories (39.5 ± 19.1 kcal/kg LBM, n = 8, p = 0.037). Conclusions: The findings indicate this sample had a high prevalence of risk for low EA, at 47.2%. Only 19.4% of participants were at no risk, meaning ~80% of participants were at some degree of risk of experiencing low EA. Cyclists were at greater risk in this cohort of low EA, although why this occurred was unclear and is in need of further investigation. Future research should address whether the current female cut-points for low EA are appropriate for use in male populations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence of Low Energy Availability in Competitively Trained Male Endurance Athletes

et al. 2019

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“…The overall sports nutrition knowledge scores were low, with the lowest level of knowledge related to supplementation (18% correctly answered). Furthermore, 30% of players were deemed to be at risk of LEA, which is similar to previously reported rates in female athletes [19,20].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Furthermore, there is currently no gold standard approach for the measurement of exercise energy expenditure, as many tools used in an applied context, including accelerometers, underestimate energy expenditure at high exercise intensities [18]. Because of the challenges associated with directly measuring EA, the validated Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) has been used to assess the risk of LEA in athletes, with the prevalence reported to range between 33 and 46% [19,20]. However, most of the existing literature has focused on endurance athletes, and little is known about team sport athletes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Intake, Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Energy Availability in Female Australian Rules Football Players

et al. 2019

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This study aimed to assess nutritional intake, sports nutrition knowledge and risk of Low Energy Availability (LEA) in female Australian rules football players. Victorian Football League Women’s competition (VFLW) players (n = 30) aged 18–35 (weight: 64.5 kg ± 8.0; height: 168.2 cm ± 7.6) were recruited from Victoria, Australia. Nutritional intake was quantified on training days using the Automated 24 h Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24-Australia), and sports nutrition knowledge was measured by the 88-item Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (SNKQ). The risk of LEA was assessed using the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q). Daily mean carbohydrate intake in the current investigation was 3 g⋅kg−1⋅d−1, therefore, below the minimum carbohydrate recommendation for moderate exercise of approximately one hour per day (5–7 g⋅kg−1⋅d−1) and for moderate to intense exercise for 1–3 h per day (6–10 g⋅kg−1⋅d−1) for 96.3% and 100% of players, respectively. Daily mean protein intake was 1.5 g⋅kg−1⋅d−1, therefore, consistent with recommendations (1.2–2.0 g⋅kg−1⋅d−1) for 77.8% of players. Daily mean calcium intake was 924.8 mg⋅d−1, therefore, below recommendations (1000 mg⋅d−1) for 65.5% of players, while mean iron intake was 12.2 mg⋅d−1, also below recommendations (18 mg⋅d−1) for 100% of players. Players answered 54.5% of SNKQ questions correctly, with the lowest scores observed in the section on supplements. Risk of LEA was evident in 30% of players, with no differences in carbohydrate (p = 0.238), protein (p = 0.296), fat (p = 0.490) or energy (p = 0.971) intakes between players at risk of LEA and those not at risk. The results suggest that female Australian rules football players have an inadequate intake of carbohydrate and calcium and low sports nutrition knowledge. Further investigation to assess the risk of LEA using direct measures is required.

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“…On the first day of pre-season training (November 2014), participants completed a 49item questionnaire on body image and disordered eating behaviours. The questionnaire was developed from the Low Energy Availability Amongst New Zealand Athletes (LEANZ) questionnaire, (Slater, McLay-Cooke, Brown, & Black, 2016) which sourced questions from the Low Energy Availability in Female Athletes Questionnaire, and the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) questionnaire, described elsewhere (Garner, 2004;Melin et al, 2014;Slater et al, 2016). Some questions were further modified to suit the participants in the current study.…”

Section: Body Image and Eating Behaviour Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

Body Image Among Elite Rugby Union Players

Gibson

Hindle

McLay-Cooke

et al. 2019

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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There is limited information on the risk of eating disorders and body image of elite male athletes. However, research suggests there are some athletes who have poor body image and they may be at increased risk of developing eating disorders. Therefore, the current study investigated risk of eating disorders, body image, and the relationship with age, in elite rugby union players during their pre-season training period.This cross-sectional study was undertaken at the start of the pre-season amongst elite rugby union players in New Zealand. Twenty-six professional rugby union players completed a 49-item questionnaire on body image and disordered eating. A 'body image score' was calculated from questionnaire subscales including 'drive for thinness', 'bulimia' and 'body dissatisfaction', with total scores above twenty indicative of poor body image.Body image scores varied from 8-39 out of a possible 0-100. Disordered eating behaviours were reported, including binge eating at least once a week (15%, n=4/26), pathogenic weight control use (4%, n=1/26) and avoidance of certain foods (77%, n=20/26). There was a statistically significant inverse association between the bulimia subscale and age (P = 0.034).At the start of the pre-season training period, many elite rugby union players experience disturbances in body image. The prevalence of disordered eating behaviours is of concern, and needs to be minimised due to the negative impact on health and performance. A focus on assessment and education of younger male rugby players may be required in order to reduce disordered eating patterns.

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Female Recreational Exercisers at Risk for Low Energy Availability

Cited by 48 publications

References 0 publications

Prevalence of Low Energy Availability in Competitively Trained Male Endurance Athletes

Prevalence of Low Energy Availability in Competitively Trained Male Endurance Athletes

Nutritional Intake, Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Energy Availability in Female Australian Rules Football Players

Body Image Among Elite Rugby Union Players

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