Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training Days
Background: Low energy availability (LEA) is a major problem as athletes often restrict their energy intake. It has been shown that LEA occurs often in female and endurance athletes and in athletes from weight-sensitive or aesthetic sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate energy availab...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3262 |
| _version_ | 1797549867827986432 |
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| author | Thomas Egger Joelle Leonie Flueck |
| author_facet | Thomas Egger Joelle Leonie Flueck |
| author_sort | Thomas Egger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Low energy availability (LEA) is a major problem as athletes often restrict their energy intake. It has been shown that LEA occurs often in female and endurance athletes and in athletes from weight-sensitive or aesthetic sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate energy availability (EA) in elite wheelchair athletes. Methods: Fourteen elite wheelchair athletes (8 males; 6 females) participated. Data were collected using a weighed seven-day food and training diary to estimate energy intake and exercise energy expenditure. Resting energy expenditure and body composition were measured, whereas energy balance (EB) was calculated. Results: Measured over 7 days, EA was significantly different (36.1 ± 6.7 kcal kg<sup>−1</sup> FFM day<sup>−1</sup>) in male compared to female (25.1 ± 7.1 kcal kg<sup>−1</sup> FFM day<sup>−1</sup>) athletes (<i>p</i> < 0.001). From all analyzed days, LEA occurred in 73% of the days in female athletes and in 30% of the days in male athletes. EB was positive in male athletes (+169.1 ± 304.5 kcal) and negative (−288.9 ± 304.8 kcal) in female athletes. Conclusions: A higher prevalence of LEA was found in female compared to male athletes. A higher energy intake would be recommended to meet energy needs and to maximize training adaptation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:21:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ef86f1a9dbd48a6a4b820b42d33c5bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:21:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ef86f1a9dbd48a6a4b820b42d33c5bd2023-11-20T18:26:45ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-10-011211326210.3390/nu12113262Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training DaysThomas Egger0Joelle Leonie Flueck1Laboratory of Exercise and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute for Sports Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, 6207 Nottwil, SwitzerlandBackground: Low energy availability (LEA) is a major problem as athletes often restrict their energy intake. It has been shown that LEA occurs often in female and endurance athletes and in athletes from weight-sensitive or aesthetic sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate energy availability (EA) in elite wheelchair athletes. Methods: Fourteen elite wheelchair athletes (8 males; 6 females) participated. Data were collected using a weighed seven-day food and training diary to estimate energy intake and exercise energy expenditure. Resting energy expenditure and body composition were measured, whereas energy balance (EB) was calculated. Results: Measured over 7 days, EA was significantly different (36.1 ± 6.7 kcal kg<sup>−1</sup> FFM day<sup>−1</sup>) in male compared to female (25.1 ± 7.1 kcal kg<sup>−1</sup> FFM day<sup>−1</sup>) athletes (<i>p</i> < 0.001). From all analyzed days, LEA occurred in 73% of the days in female athletes and in 30% of the days in male athletes. EB was positive in male athletes (+169.1 ± 304.5 kcal) and negative (−288.9 ± 304.8 kcal) in female athletes. Conclusions: A higher prevalence of LEA was found in female compared to male athletes. A higher energy intake would be recommended to meet energy needs and to maximize training adaptation.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3262sports nutritionresting energy expenditurespinal cord injuryRED-Sparalympicenergy availability |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Egger Joelle Leonie Flueck Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training Days Nutrients sports nutrition resting energy expenditure spinal cord injury RED-S paralympic energy availability |
| title | Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training Days |
| title_full | Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training Days |
| title_fullStr | Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training Days |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training Days |
| title_short | Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes over Seven Consecutive Training Days |
| title_sort | energy availability in male and female elite wheelchair athletes over seven consecutive training days |
| topic | sports nutrition resting energy expenditure spinal cord injury RED-S paralympic energy availability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3262 |
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