Examination of Eating Disorder Risk, Dietary Intake and Body Composition in CrossFit Athletes

Abstract

CrossFit is a sport of high demands of training and sometimes a strict dietary behaviors. To date, no current literature has examined eating disorder risk, energy needs and body composition of these athletes. PURPOSE: To examine eating disorder (ED) risk, dietary needs and body composition in competitive CrossFit athletes (active competitors at local, regional, or national level). METHODS: CrossFit athletes (n=20) from a local area participated in the study (males: n=11, age = 26.7 years, height=197.6+8.5 cm, weight=86.1+6.8 kg; and females: n=9, age = 29.4 years, height = 163.2+5.6, weight = 64.5+6.6 kg). Participants completed a demographic survey, Eating Disorder Inventory 3 and ED symptoms checklist. They also completed a 7 day online dietary and exercise log and were measured for height, weight, DXA scan, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) through indirect calorimetry (MedGem). RESULTS: DXA body fat percentage for males and females were 17.0±4.4% and 16.7±3.6% respectively. ED risk was found in 45.5% and 44.4% of males and females respectively; and 63.6% and 100% of males and females engaged in some form of pathogenic behavior. Energy assessment for males included: energy intake (EI) = 3015.4±356.9 kcal/day; RMR = 2036.4±356.9 kcal/day; exercise energy expenditure (EEE) = 707.1±315.7 kcal/day, and energy availability (EA) = 34.6±16.6 kcals/kg-1LBM/day. Energy assessment for females included: EI = 1963.1±521.2 kcal/day; RMR = 1391.1.4±195.8 kcal/day; EEE = 427.7±184.6 kcal/day, and EA = 31.1±8.9 kcals/kg-1LBM/day. Overall, 95% (n=19) reported under the recommendation for CHO intake (6-10g/kg); 100% reported over the recommendation for protein intake (1.2-1.7 g/kg), while 10% (n=4) were under and 15% were over the fat recommendations (20-35%). CONCLUSION: CrossFit athletes displayed ED risks both psychologically as well as pathogenic behaviors. Additionally, these athletes appear to be under consuming carbohydrates and over consuming proteins per the recommendation for athletes. The imbalance of nutrition may be inadvertently due to lack of knowledge of personal energy needs for the sport. Therefore, it is important for athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals to understand individual energy requirements and ED risk for optimal health and performance.