Examination Of Energy Availability, Eating Disorder Risk, Carbohydrate Availability Among Collegiate Rotc Cadets

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are tactical athletes and may be at risk for low energy availability (LEA), eating disorders (ED), and low carbohydrate (CHO) availability. PURPOSE: To examine LEA with or without an ED risk and LEA with or without a low CHO availability in ROTC cadets across sex. METHODS: Twenty-eight ROTC cadets (age: 19.5 ± 2.7 years; females = 13, height: 161.9 ± 7.2 cm, weight: 62.3 ± 9.4 kg; males = 15, height: 176.7 ± 6.8 cm, weight: 77.1 ± 10.6 kg) completed baseline measures including: anthropometric measurements (height, mass, body composition), resting metabolic rate, the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), and the EDI-3 Symptom Checklist (EDI-3 SC). Energy intake, total daily energy expenditure, and exercise energy expenditure were estimated using a 7-day dietary log and a heart rate monitor. LEA was defined as <30 kcal/kg of fat-free mass (FFM) per day. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all demographics and dependent variables. Chi-squares and crosstabulations analysis were used to examine differences in sex for ED risk, and LEA both with or without ED risk and with or without low CHO availability. RESULTS: Overall, 60.7% (n = 17/28) of ROTC cadets presented with LEA, 57.1% (n = 16) with ED risk , and 89.3% (n = 25/28) with Low CHO intake. Additionally, of those with LEA, 70.6% (n = 12) displayed LEA with ED risk, and 100% (n = 17) LEA with Low CHO intake. No significant differences were found across sex and LEA (p = .934), ED risk (p = .229), and Low CHO intake (p = .630). Table1 represents energy needs of ROTC Cadets. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of LEA was present in over half of the ROTC cadets in this sample. Alarmingly, those with LEA also presented with risk for EDs and low CHO intake. Dietary intake was inadequate for the demands of the physical activities performed. Nutritional interventions and educational strategies should be implemented among ROTC to assists in prevention and early identification of negative health outcomes. - Energy Needs for Female and Male ROTC Cadets Energy Needs All Females Males P-Value Resting Metabolic Rate (kcals) 1540.7 ± 364.0 1283.8 ± 204.2 1763.3 ± 324.7 <.001 Energy Intake (kcals) 1992.9 ± 616.1 1602.7 ± 411.9 2330.9 ± 568.1 <.001 Total Daily Energy Expenditure (kcals) 3158.3 ± 779.2 2527.3 ± 377.5 3705.3 ± 598.7 <.001 Exercise Energy Expenditure (kcals) 465.7 ± 209.6 371.7 ± 248.2 547.1 ± 128.9 .024 Energy Availability (kcals/kg FFM/day) 31.2 ± 17.6 28.8 ± 14.8 33.3 ± 19.9 .510