scholarly journals Energy Availability with or without Eating Disorder Risk in Collegiate Female Athletes and Performing Artists

Author(s):  
Toni M. Torres-McGehee ◽  
Dawn M. Emerson ◽  
Kelly Pritchett ◽  
Erin M. Moore ◽  
Allison B. Smith ◽  
...  

Abstract CONTEXT: Female athletes/performing artists can present with low energy availability (LEA) either through unintentional (e.g., inadvertent undereating) or intentional methods (e.g., eating disorder [ED]). While LEA and ED risk have been examined independently, little research has examined these simultaneously. Awareness of LEA with or without ED risk may provide clinicians with innovative prevention and intervention strategies. OBJECTIVE: To examine LEA with or without ED risk (e.g., eating attitudes, pathogenic behaviors) in female collegiate athletes/performing artists. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and descriptive. SETTING: Free-living in sport-specific settings. PARTICIPANTS: Collegiate female athletes/performing artist (n=121; age: 19.8±2.0 years; height: 168.9±7.7 cm; weight: 63.6±9.26 kg) in equestrian (n=28), volleyball (n=12), softball (n=17), beach volleyball (n=18), ballet (n=26) and soccer (n=20) participated in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, body composition), resting metabolic rate, energy intake, total daily energy expenditure, exercise energy expenditure, Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), and EDI-3 Symptom Checklist were assessed. Chi-square analysis examined differences between LEA and sport type, LEA and ED risk, ED risk and sport type, and pathogenic behaviors and sport type. RESULTS: Female athletes/performing artists (81%; n=98) displayed LEA and significant differences were found between LEA and sport type (χ25=43.8, P<.01). Female athletes/performing artists (76.0%; n=92) presented with ED risk with no significant difference between ED risk and sport. EDI-3 Symptom Checklist revealed 61.2% (n=74) engaged in pathogenic behaviors, with dieting the most common (51.2%; n=62). Athletes/performing artist displayed LEA with ED risk (76.0%; n=92). No significant differences were found between LEA with ED risk and sport. Softball was the highest with 82.4% (n=14) reporting LEA with ED risk followed by ballet (76%; n=19). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a large proportion of collegiate female athletes/performing artists are at risk for LEA with ED risk, thus warranting education, identification, prevention, and intervention strategies relative to fueling for performance.

2014 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. E881-E885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Lawson ◽  
Kathryn E. Ackerman ◽  
Meghan Slattery ◽  
Dean A. Marengi ◽  
Hannah Clarke ◽  
...  

Context: Oxytocin has been implicated in the modulation of energy metabolism in animals. Oxytocin knockout mice develop obesity without a change in food intake, suggesting that a lack of oxytocin may reduce metabolic rate. Furthermore, administration of oxytocin centrally reduces food intake in rats, an effect reversed by an oxytocin antagonist, implying that oxytocin may regulate appetite and energy intake. We have previously demonstrated that young female athletes (in a higher energy expenditure state than nonathletes) have low nocturnal oxytocin compared with nonathletes. Whether oxytocin is associated with measures of energy homeostasis in athletes is unknown. Objective: We hypothesized that oxytocin, a signal for energy availability, would be associated with other measures of energy homeostasis in young female athletes. Design and Setting: We performed a cross-sectional study of 45 females, aged 14–21 years [15 amenorrheic athletes (AA), 15 eumenorrheic athletes, and 15 nonathletes] of comparable body mass index. Methods: Dual x-ray absorptiometry was performed to assess body composition. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure resting energy expenditure (REE). Fasting levels of oxytocin, energy homeostasis hormones irisin and fibroblast growth factor-21, and appetite-regulating hormone peptide YY were obtained. Results: In AA, oxytocin secretion was positively correlated with surrogate measures of energy availability, including weight (r = 0.65, P = .009) and body mass index (r = 0.61, P = .016). Furthermore, oxytocin was associated with REE (r = 0.80, P = .0003), independent of lean mass, and with irisin (r = 0.74, P = .002) and fibroblast growth factor-21 (r = 0.58, P = .024). In eumenorrheic athletes, oxytocin was associated with REE (r = 0.59, P = .021), independent of lean mass. In nonathletes, oxytocin secretion was not significantly associated with measures of energy homeostasis. Conclusions: In AA, oxytocin secretion is associated with measures of energy availability and expenditure, suggesting that oxytocin may be involved in regulation of energy balance in energy deficient states. Further studies determining the role of oxytocin in appetite and energy homeostasis in athletes are warranted.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Egger ◽  
Joelle Leonie Flueck

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−1 FFM day−1) in male compared to female (25.1 ± 7.1 kcal kg−1 FFM day−1) athletes (p < 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.


Author(s):  
Sarah J. Woodruff ◽  
Renee D. Meloche

Female athletes should aim to achieve energy balance to maintain health and have a high performance output. The purpose of this study was to investigate energy availability (EA) among members of a medium-size Canadian Interuniversity Sport women’s volleyball team and to describe exercise energy expenditure (ExEE) during practices, game warm-ups, and games. Total daily energy expenditure was assessed over 7 d using the Bodymedia Sensewear Mini armband, while energy intake (EI) was measured with dietary food logs. Body composition was assessed using air-displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod). Energy availability was calculated using the equation EA = (EIkcal – ExEEkcal)/kg fat-free mass (FFM). Participants consumed 3,435 (± 1,172) kcal/day and expended 3479 (± 604) kcal/day. Mean EA was 42.5 kcal · kg FFM-1 · d-1 across all 7 d, and 2 participants fell below the 30-kcal · kg FFM-1 · d-1 threshold. Furthermore, participants expended 511 (± 216), 402 (± 50), and 848 (± 155) kcal during practices, game warm-ups, and games, respectively. Overall, the participants were relatively weight stable and should be encouraged to continue fueling their exercise and high ExEE needs with appropriate nutritional strategies.


PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell ◽  
Christopher Todden ◽  
Aaron R. Caldwell ◽  
Lauren E. Breithaupt

Background Eating disorders are serious psychological disorders with long term health impacts. Athletic populations, tend to have higher incidences of eating disorders compared to the general population. Yet there is little known about athletes’ eating disorder knowledge and how it relates to their confidence in their knowledge. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate collegiate female athletes’ eating disorder (ED) knowledge and confidence in their knowledge. 51 participants were recruited from a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) university in the mid-west and asked to complete a 30-question exam assessing one’s knowledge of five different categories related to eating disorders. Confidence in the correctness of answers was assessed with a 5-point Likert-scale (1 = very unconfident, 5 = very confident). A one-way ANOVA was used to determine differences between scores on different categories and overall scores. A simple regression analysis was used to determine if confidence or age was predictive in knowledge scores. Results The average score of participants was 69.1%, SD = 10.8% with an average confidence of 3.69/5, SD = 0.33. Athletes scored lowest with regards to Identifying Signs and Symptoms of EDs compared to other sub-scores (p < 0.05). There was no relationship between knowledge and confidence scores. Discussion There is limited ED knowledge among collegiate female athletes. This may be problematic as many athletes appear confident in the correctness of their answers despite these low scores. Coaches should be aware of this lack of knowledge and work with clinical practitioners, such as dieticians, team physicians and athletic trainers to educate and monitor their athletes on eating disorders, specifically signs and symptoms.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-613
Author(s):  
Jessyca N. Arthur-Cameselle ◽  
Molly Curcio

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify turning points in eating disorder recovery in collegiate female athletes compared to non-athletes. The sample included 12 varsity athletes and 17 non-athlete college students who previously met criteria for Anorexia Nervosa (AN; n = 17); Bulimia Nervosa (BN; n = 3); Binge Eating Disorder (n = 1); or both AN and BN (n = 8). Participants completed individual interviews and responses were analyzed inductively. There was some commonality in the athletes’ and non-athletes’ experiences. For example, the most frequent turning point for both groups was Insight/Self Realization. Regarding the next three most frequent turning points, athletes reported Sport Performance, Confrontation, and Support/Concern from Others, whereas non-athletes reported Professional Treatment, Hitting a Low, and Support/Concern from Others. This study contributes to the sparse literature on competitive athletes’ recovery. Results indicated that athletes’ turning points differed from non-athletes; therefore, findings are discussed concerning athlete-specific treatment recommendations and suggestions for coaches.


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