Examination Of Energy Needs And Low Energy Availability Among Historically Black College University Female Athletes

Low energy availability (LEA) is common among female athletes and is a contributing factor to reduced bone mineral density and hormonal dysfunction. However, there is limited research among athletes of color, making it difficult for results to be transferable to all populations, specifically underrepresented and marginalized communities such as those that attend Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU). PURPOSE: To examine energy needs and demands [energy intake (EI), resting metabolic rate (RMR), total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), exercise energy expenditure (EEE) and energy balance (EB)] and prevalence of LEA with or without eating disorder (ED) risk across HBCU female athletes. METHODS: Twenty-two female athletes (Black = 19, Hispanic = 2, Multiethnic = 1; age = 19 ± 1 year; height: 166.2 ± 7.6 cm; weight: 68.4 ± 11.9 kg) from 2 HBCU institutions completed baseline measures including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), the EDI-3 symptom checklist (SC), anthropometric measures, and RMR via indirect calorimetry. Next, participants completed an online dietary log to measure EI and wore a heart rate monitor to estimate EEE during planned exercises for 7 days. We calculated TDEE using RMR, EEE, general activity factor and thermic effect of food estimates. LEA was defined as < 30 kcal/kg of fat-free mass (FFM) per day. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all demographics and energy needs. Crosstabulations were used to identify the proportion of athletes at risk for LEA with or without ED risk. RESULTS: All participants presented with negative EB (EI=1397.9±495.3 kcals, RMR=1265.9±191.8 kcals, EEE=643.9±297.9 kcals, TDEE=2797.0±442.3 kcals). The EA (mean=15.6±12.6 kcal/kg FFM/day) indicated 90.9% of female athletes (n=20) displayed LEA; of those 55% (n=11) had LEA with ED risk. In total, risk for ED was identified in 59.1% of female athletes (n=13; EDI-3 risk=3; SC risk=2; Both EDI-3 and SC risk=8). Interestingly, the 2 athletes with optimal EA were identified at risk for EDs using both the EDI-3 and SC. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated HBCU female athletes in this sample did not meet the energy demands required to maintain EB and displayed an elevated risk for LEA and EDs. Further inspection of dietary logs suggests clinician should focus on education of proper fueling in this community. American Fellowship from AAUW