Examination Of Energy Availability, Eating Disorders And Carbohydrate Availability Among College-age Runners

Studies examining both low energy availability (EA) with or without an eating disorder (ED) and low carbohydrate (CHO) availability are sparse. Insufficient dietary intake, like CHO sources, may lead to impaired energy which impedes optimal performance and health. Despite known CHO needs during training and recovery, concern remains that athletes may not be meeting the recommendations. PURPOSE: To examine EA with or without an ED risk and EA with or without a low CHO availability across sex for endurance-trained runners. METHODS: A cross-sectional study examined collegiate endurance-trained runners (n=17; age: 19.4±1.1 years; females: n=11, height: 162.2±5.8 cm, weight: 58.0±7.9 kg; and males: n=7; height: 180.4±6.6 cm, weight: 68.1±5.5 kg). Anthropometric measurements (height, mass, 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 (EDI-3 SC) were assessed. Chi-squares and cross tabulations analysis were used to examine differences in sex for EA, ED risk, and LEA both with or without ED risk and with or without low CHO availability. Frequencies, means, and standard deviations were calculated for basic demographics and dependent variables. RESULTS: Overall, LEA was 58.8% (n=10/17) with ED risk of 52.9% (n=9/17). Low CHO availability was 94.1% (n=16/17) with no significant differences across sex (χ21,17 = .744, p = .388). For runners with LEA, 50% (n=5/10) were at risk for ED, and no significant differences across sex (χ21,17 = .084, p = .772). All runners with LEA were low in CHO availability (100%, n=10/10). No significant differences across sex and LEA and low CHO (χ21,17 = 1.518, p = .218). The average macronutrient distribution for all runners was as follows: protein 1.37 ± .592 (g/kg/day), CHO 4.02 ± 1.29 (g/kg/day), fats 31.52 ± 8.46 (%), and saturated fat 9.82 ± 2.73(%). CONCLUSION: Over half of the endurance-trained runners presented with LEA, with nearly a third of participants displaying signs of LEA with an ED. It’s important that patients suffering from both factors receive healthcare involving a multidisciplinary team (physician, AT, dietitian, psychiatrist, etc.), education on the medical consequences involved with LEA, and quality nutritional education.