Abstract

The dietary intake and eating attitudes of adolescent climbers has not previously been studied. To fill this knowledge gap, we administered three surveys to 22 rock climbers (13 males, 9 females, age 14.2 ± 1.9 years): climbing ability, three-day dietary recall, and Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26). The majority (82%) of climbers did not meet their target energy intake (target = 2,471 ± 493 kcal·day−1; actual = 1,963 ± 581 kcal·day−1) (p = 0.003) and 86% of climbers consumed below their target carbohydrate intake (target = 283 ± 67 g·day−1; actual intake = 226 ± 72 g·day−1) (p = 0.009). Average dietary protein intake was 95 ± 51 g·day−1, with the majority of climbers meeting their target intake of 88 ± 21 g (p = 0.580). Seventy-three percent of climbers consumed below their target dietary fat intake (target = 90 ± 21 g·day−1; actual = 69 ± 20 g·day−1) (p = 0.001). Average EAT-26 scores were 5.3 ± 4.1, indicating minimal risk of disordered eating attitudes/behaviors. There were no significant differences in boulderers vs. top rope climbers for energy/macronutrient intake, BMI, and EAT-26 score. There were no associations between energy intake and EAT-26 score (R2 = 0.245, p = 0.271) or climbing ability and EAT-26 score (R2 = p = 0.217). These data suggest that, with the exception of dietary protein intake, adolescent climbers fail to meet target dietary intakes, and exhibit minimal risk of disordered eating.

Highlights

  • Rock climbing is an increasingly popular sport, gaining worldwide attention as a new event in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

  • Energy availability (EA) is calculated as Energy Intake (EI)—Exercise Energy Expenditure (EEE)/Fat Free Mass (FFM) where exercise energy expenditure (EEE) is calculated as the additional energy expended above that of Dietary Intake in Adolescent Climbers daily living during the exercise bout

  • There were no significant differences in dietary intake between males and females and between climbing abilities

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Summary

Introduction

Rock climbing is an increasingly popular sport, gaining worldwide attention as a new event in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The physiological demands of climbing include upper body strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and a reliance on both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems [1,2,3]. Dietary patterns must be carefully considered to ensure optimal body composition while providing sufficient energy to avoid low energy availability/relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). In 2018, the International Olympic Committee updated this definition, which includes the concept of low energy availability (LEA). Energy availability (EA) is calculated as Energy Intake (EI) (kcal)—Exercise Energy Expenditure (EEE) (kcal)/Fat Free Mass (FFM) (kg) where exercise energy expenditure (EEE) is calculated as the additional energy expended above that of Dietary Intake in Adolescent Climbers daily living during the exercise bout. The overall result is expressed relative to FFM, reflecting the body’s most metabolically active tissues” [6]

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