Risk of Low Energy Availability among Female and Male Elite Runners Competing at the 26th European Cross-Country Championships.

Filipe Jesus,Pedro A Branco,Inês Castela,Mónica Sousa,Analiza M Silva

doi:10.3390/nu13030873

Filipe Jesus, Pedro A Branco + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030873

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Mar 7, 2021
Citations: 13	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Lisbon, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Abstract

Low energy availability (LEA) causes impaired physiological functioning. Cross-country running is a weight-sensitive sport, making athletes more prone to LEA. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of elite European cross-country athletes at risk of LEA using the LEA in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) and to analyze demographic and physical characteristics that are associated with LEA. Athletes ≥ 18 years competing at the 26th European Cross-Country Championships (n = 602) were invited to complete a questionnaire (sociodemographic, training, anthropometric characteristics, and LEAF-Q). A total of 207 valid surveys were collected (83 females, 22.1 (4.0) years, and 124 males, 22.3 (4.1) years), and 16 surveys were excluded. A high prevalence of athletes at risk of LEA (64.3%) was observed, being higher in females than in males (79.5 and 54.0% respectively, p < 0.001). More than half of athletes (54.1%, n = 112) reported bowel movements once a week or more rarely, while 33 female athletes (41.3%) did not report normal menstruation. Overall, cross-country athletes are at high risk of LEA. Moreover, a high prevalence of gastrointestinal and menstrual impairments was reported. Hence, athletes should be followed by multidisciplinary teams to inform, prevent, and treat LEA and its effects.

Highlights

Energy availability (EA) is defined as the difference between energy intake (EI) and exercise energy expenditure (EEE) in relation to fat-free mass (FFM) [1]
It has been established that values below this threshold refer to clinical low EA (LEA), whereas subclinical LEA ranges from clinical LEA to optimal levels of EA (i.e., 45 kcal/kg FFM/day for female and 40 kcal/kg FFM/day for male athletes) [2]
The aim of this study was twofold: (i) To estimate the prevalence of European elite cross-country athletes competing at the 26th European Cross-Country Championships at risk of LEA through a validated questionnaire; and (ii) to analyze demographic and physical characteristics that are associated with LEA

Summary

Introduction

Energy availability (EA) is defined as the difference between energy intake (EI) and exercise energy expenditure (EEE) in relation to fat-free mass (FFM) [1]. It has been established that values below this threshold refer to clinical low EA (LEA), whereas subclinical LEA ranges from clinical LEA to optimal levels of EA (i.e., 45 kcal/kg FFM/day for female and 40 kcal/kg FFM/day for male athletes) [2]. (i.e., 10 health outcomes and 10 exercises consequences in males and females, including gastrointestinal function impairment and injuries) may differ, LEA is the underlying cause for both [5]. Risk factors such as low weight and fat mass have been associated with LEA or its surrogates (e.g., amenorrhea) [2]. The identification of the risk factors, and athletes at risk of LEA, is the first step to prevent the development or to initiate the treatment of the consequences of LEA [4]

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