scholarly journals Body Composition, Energy Availability, Training, and Menstrual Status in Female Runners

Author(s):  
Johanna K. Ihalainen ◽  
Oona Kettunen ◽  
Kerry McGawley ◽  
Guro Strøm Solli ◽  
Anthony C. Hackney ◽  
...  

Purpose: To determine body composition, energy availability, training load, and menstrual status in young elite endurance running athletes (ATH) over 1 year, and in a secondary analysis, to investigate how these factors differ between nonrunning controls (CON), and amenorrheic (AME) and eumenorrheic (EUM) ATH. Correlations to injury, illness, and performance were also examined. Methods: Altogether 13 ATH and 8 CON completed the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire. Anthropometric, energy intake, and peak oxygen uptake assessments were made at 4 time points throughout the year: at baseline post competition season, post general preparation, post specific preparation, and post competition season the following year. Logs of physical activity, menstrual cycle, illness, and injury were kept by all participants. Performance was defined using the highest International Association of Athletics Federations points prior to and after the study. Results: ATH had significantly lower body mass (P < .008), fat percentage (P < .001), and body mass index (P < .027) compared with CON, while energy availability did not differ between ATH and CON. The Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire score was higher in ATH than in CON (P < .028), and 8 ATH (vs zero CON) were AME. The AME had significantly more injury days (P < .041) and ran less (P < .046) than EUM, while total annual running distance was positively related to changes in performance in ATH (r < .62, P < .043, n < 11). Conclusions: More than half of this group of runners was AME, and they were injured more and ran less than their EUM counterparts. Furthermore, only the EUM runners increased their performance over the course of the year.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2083
Author(s):  
María Villa ◽  
José G. Villa-Vicente ◽  
Jesus Seco-Calvo ◽  
Juan Mielgo-Ayuso ◽  
Pilar S. Collado

The aim of this study was to analyze dietary intake and body composition in a group of elite-level competitive rhythmic gymnasts from Spain. We undertook body composition and nutritional analysis of 30 elite gymnasts, divided into two groups by age: pre-teen (9–12 years) (n = 17) and teen (13–18 years) (n = 13). Measures of height, weight, and bioimpedance were used to calculate body mass index and percent body fat. Energy and nutrient intakes were assessed based on 7-day food records. The two groups had similar percentages of total body fat (pre-teen: 13.99 ± 3.83% vs. teen: 14.33 ± 5.57%; p > 0.05). The energy availability values for pre-teens were above the recommended values (>40 kcal/FFM/day) 69.38 ± 14.47 kcal/FFM/day, while those for the teens were much lower (34.7 ± 7.5 kcal/FFM/day). The distribution of the daily energy intake across the macronutrients indicates that both groups ingested less than the recommended level of carbohydrates and more than the recommended level of fat. Very low intakes of calcium and vitamin D among other micronutrients were also noted. The main finding is that teenage gymnasts do not consume as much energy as they need each day, which explains their weight and development. Moreover, they are at a high risk of developing low energy availability that could negatively impact their performance and future health.


Author(s):  
Daniel Paduan Joaquim ◽  
Claudia Ridel Juzwiak ◽  
Ciro Winckler

One of the greatest challenges when working with athletes is to achieve the energy demands for physiological processes and exercise expenditure. The aim of this study was to assess the energy availability (EA) of Paralympic track and field athletes (sprinters). Seventeen athletes (9 male and 8 female) with visual impairment (VI, n=10), cerebral palsy (CP, n=4) and limb deficiency (LD, n=3) were assessed for energy intake (EI) (4-day food photographic record), energy expenditure with exercise (EEex) (motion sensor), and body composition (skinfolds method). Energy availability was estimated using the equation: EA = (EIkcal - EEexkcal) / fat-free mass (FFM) / day, and values ≤ 30kcal/kgFFM/day were considered as low energy availability (LEA). EEex varied from 130 to 477kcal/h and athletes trained in average for 3.2 hours per day. Mean EA for VI, LD and CP were 36 (2.19), 37 (1.90) and 38 (3.38) kcal/kgFFM/day, respectively. Most (82.3%) participants presented EA below ≥ 45kcal/kgFFM/day, throughout the days, which are the recommended values for athletes without disability. Athletes should be encouraged to consume adequate EA to avoid consequences related to low energy availability. There is need of further research to identify cut-off values adequate for this population.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Masoome Piri Damaghi ◽  
Atieh Mirzababaei ◽  
Sajjad Moradi ◽  
Elnaz Daneshzad ◽  
Atefeh Tavakoli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Essential amino acids (EAAs) promote the process of regulating muscle synthesis. Thus, whey protein that contains higher amounts of EAA can have a considerable effect on modifying muscle synthesis. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the effect of soy and whey protein supplementation on body composition. Thus, we sought to perform a meta-analysis of published Randomized Clinical Trials that examined the effect of whey protein supplementation and soy protein supplementation on body composition (lean body mass, fat mass, body mass and body fat percentage) in adults. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, up to August 2020, for all relevant published articles assessing soy protein supplementation and whey protein supplementation on body composition parameters. We included all Randomized Clinical Trials that investigated the effect of whey protein supplementation and soy protein supplementation on body composition in adults. Pooled means and standard deviations (SD) were calculated using random-effects models. Subgroup analysis was applied to discern possible sources of heterogeneity. Results: After excluding non-relevant articles, 10 studies, with 596 participants, remained in this study. We found a significant increase in lean body mass after whey protein supplementation weighted mean difference (WMD: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.15, 1.67. P= 0.019). Subgroup analysis, for whey protein, indicated that there was a significant increase in lean body mass in individuals concomitant to exercise (WMD: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.47, 2.00; P= 0.001). There was a significant increase in lean body mass in individuals who received 12 or less weeks of whey protein (WMD: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.63; P<0.0001). We observed no significant change between whey protein supplementation and body mass, fat mass, and body fat percentage. We found no significant change between soy protein supplementation and lean body mass, body mass, fat mass, and body fat percentage. Subgroup analysis for soy protein indicated there was a significant increase in lean body mass in individuals who supplemented for 12 or less weeks with soy protein (WMD: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.89; P< 0.0001). Conclusion: Whey protein supplementation significantly improved body composition via increases in lean body mass, without influencing fat mass, body mass, and body fat percentage.


Author(s):  
Clíodhna McHugh ◽  
Karen Hind ◽  
Aoife O'Halloran ◽  
Daniel Davey ◽  
Gareth Farrell ◽  
...  

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate longitudinal body mass and body composition changes in one professional rugby union team (n=123), (i) according to position [forwards (n=58) versus backs (n=65)], analysis of players with 6 consecutive seasons of DXA scans (n=21) and, (iii) to examine differences by playing status [academy and international], over 7 years. Players [mean age: 26.8 y, body mass index: 28.9+kg.m2] received DXA scans at fourtime points within each year. A modest (but non-significant) increase in mean total mass (0.8 kg) for professional players was reflected by increased lean mass and reduced body fat mass. At all-time points, forwards had a significantly greater total mass, lean mass and body fat percentage compared to backs (p<0.05). Academy players demonstrated increased total and lean mass and decreased body fat percentage over the first 3 years of senior rugby, although this was not significant. Senior and academy international players had greater lean mass and lower body fat percentage (p<0.05) than non-international counterparts. Despite modest increases in total mass; reflected by increased lean mass and reduced fat mass, no significant changes in body mass or body composition, irrespective of playing position were apparent over 7 years.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 3911
Author(s):  
Peter Francis Raguindin ◽  
Alessandro Bertolo ◽  
Ramona Maria Zeh ◽  
Gion Fränkl ◽  
Oche Adam Itodo ◽  
...  

The level of injury is linked with biochemical alterations and limitations in physical activity among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), which are crucial determinants of body composition. We searched five electronic databases from inception until 22 July 2021. The pooled effect estimates were computed using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was calculated using I2 statistics and the chi-squared test. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. We pooled 40 studies comprising 4872 individuals with SCI (3991 males, 825 females, and 56 sex-unknown) in addition to chronic SCI (median injury duration 12.3 y, IQR 8.03–14.8). Individuals with tetraplegia had a higher fat percentage (weighted mean difference (WMD) 1.9%, 95% CI 0.6, 3.1) and lower lean mass (WMD −3.0 kg, 95% CI −5.9, −0.2) compared to those with paraplegia. Those with tetraplegia also had higher indicators of central adiposity (WMD, visceral adipose tissue area 0.24 dm2 95% CI 0.05, 0.43 and volume 1.05 L 95% CI 0.14, 1.95), whereas body mass index was lower in individuals with tetraplegia than paraplegia (WMD −0.9 kg/mg2, 95% CI −1.4, −0.5). Sex, age, and injury characteristics were observed to be sources of heterogeneity. Thus, individuals with tetraplegia have higher fat composition compared to paraplegia. Anthropometric measures, such as body mass index, may be inaccurate in describing adiposity in SCI individuals.


Author(s):  
Boštjan Jakše ◽  
Barbara Jakše ◽  
Stanislav Pinter ◽  
Jernej Pajek ◽  
Nataša Fidler Mis

Failure of various weight-loss programs and long-term maintenance of favorable body composition in all kinds of people is high, since the majority go back to old dietary patterns. Many studies have documented the efficacy of a plant-based diet (PBD) for body mass management, but there are opinions that maintaining a PBD is difficult. We aimed to evaluate the long-term success of a whole-food plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle program. We investigated the differences in the obesity indices and lifestyle of 151 adults (39.6 &plusmn; SD 12.5 years), who were on our program for short (0.5&ndash;&lt;2 years), medium (2&ndash;&lt;5 years), or long term (5&ndash;10 years). Body-composition changes were favourable for all three groups, both genders and all participants. There were no differences in relative body-composition changes (BMI, body fat percentage and muscle mass index (MMI)) between the three groups. All participants improved their BMI (baseline mean pre-obesity BMI range (kg/m2): 26.4 &plusmn; 5.6 to normal 23.9 &plusmn; 3.8, p &lt; 0.001), decreased body mass (&ndash;7.1 &plusmn; 8.3 kg, p &lt; 0.001) and body fat percentage (&ndash;6.4 &plusmn; 5.6 % points, p &lt; 0.001). 85.6% (101 out of 118) of parents of underage children (&lt; 18 years), introduced WFPB lifestyle to their children. Those with the highest BMI at baseline lost the most of: a) BMI units, b) total body mass and c) body fat (a) (kg/m2) (&ndash;5.6 &plusmn; SD 2.9, &ndash;2.4 &plusmn; 1.8 and &ndash;0.9 &plusmn; 1.5), b) (kg) (&ndash;16.1 &plusmn; SD 8.8, &ndash;7.1 &plusmn; 5.4 and &ndash;2.5 &plusmn; 4.5) and c) (% points) (&ndash;9.5 &plusmn; SD 5.7, &ndash;6.6 &plusmn; 4.6 and &ndash;4.7 &plusmn; 5.3) for participants who had baseline BMI in obese, overweight and normal range, respectively; pbaseline vs. current &lt; 0.001 for all). WFPB lifestyle program provides long-term lifestyle changes for reversal of obesity and is effective transferred to the next generation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 628-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E Ackerman ◽  
Bryan Holtzman ◽  
Katherine M Cooper ◽  
Erin F Flynn ◽  
Georgie Bruinvels ◽  
...  

Low energy availability (EA) is suspected to be the underlying cause of both the Female Athlete Triad and the more recently defined syndrome, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defined RED-S as a syndrome of health and performance impairments resulting from an energy deficit. While the importance of adequate EA is generally accepted, few studies have attempted to understand whether low EA is associated with the health and performance consequences posited by the IOC.ObjectiveThe purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association of low EA with RED-S health and performance consequences in a large clinical population of female athletes.MethodsOne thousand female athletes (15–30 years) completed an online questionnaire and were classified as having low or adequate EA. The associations between low EA and the health and performance factors listed in the RED-S models were evaluated using chi-squared test and the odds ratios were evaluated using binomial logistic regression (p<0.05).ResultsAthletes with low EA were more likely to be classified as having increased risk of menstrual dysfunction, poor bone health, metabolic issues, haematological detriments, psychological disorders, cardiovascular impairment and gastrointestinal dysfunction than those with adequate EA. Performance variables associated with low EA included decreased training response, impaired judgement, decreased coordination, decreased concentration, irritability, depression and decreased endurance performance.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that low EA measured using self-report questionnaires is strongly associated with many health and performance consequences proposed by the RED-S models.


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