Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes
Background Inadequate energy intake among athletes can lead to low energy availability (LEA) which in turn can result in negative effects on athletic performance and physical and psychological health. This syndrome is known as relative energy deficiency in sports (REDs).Objective To map perceived ch...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
|
| Series: | BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health |
| Online Access: | https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2024/12/11/bmjnph-2024-000954.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846118527042322432 |
|---|---|
| author | Maria Larsson Ida Lindman Josefin Abrahamson Agneta Hörnell |
| author_facet | Maria Larsson Ida Lindman Josefin Abrahamson Agneta Hörnell |
| author_sort | Maria Larsson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Inadequate energy intake among athletes can lead to low energy availability (LEA) which in turn can result in negative effects on athletic performance and physical and psychological health. This syndrome is known as relative energy deficiency in sports (REDs).Objective To map perceived changes in overall food intake among adolescent athletes during the previous year, as well as weekly changes during a 3-month period and to examine how these changes are associated with mental health, physical load and sex.Methods A total of 168 high school athletes from eight different sports participated. A baseline questionnaire examined changes in training habits and food intake in the past year, mental health (short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS)), injury history and previous periods of poor psychological health. Weekly digital questionnaires for 3 months tracked weekly physical and mental load and changes in food intake. Comparative and correlation analyses were performed with p<0.05 considered significant.Results A decreased food intake during the previous year was reported more often among athletes experiencing periods of poor mental health than those without such periods (10% vs 2%; p=0.034). Athletes who decreased their food intake reported lower mental well-being than athletes who increased their food intake (mean difference in SWEMWBS=4.69±1.57; p=0.021). Over a 3-month period, most athletes did not change their food intake, yet fluctuations in physical load were reported.Conclusion This study showed that athletes experiencing lower mental health or period(s) of poor mental health reported decreased food intake more often than those with better mental health or those without period(s) of poor mental health. In addition, the mismatch found between perceived weekly changes in overall food intake and changes in physical load during the same time period could potentially result in an increased risk for LEA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7e7d61934bb4bd189a2064b261508eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2516-5542 |
| language | English |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7e7d61934bb4bd189a2064b261508eb2024-12-17T16:20:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health2516-554210.1136/bmjnph-2024-000954Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletesMaria Larsson0Ida Lindman1Josefin Abrahamson2Agneta Hörnell3Section for rehabilitation and Health, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, SwedenGeneral Practice (Family Medicine), School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenborg, SwedenOrthopaedic Research Unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Food,Nutrition and Culinary Science, Umeå Universitet, Umea, SwedenBackground Inadequate energy intake among athletes can lead to low energy availability (LEA) which in turn can result in negative effects on athletic performance and physical and psychological health. This syndrome is known as relative energy deficiency in sports (REDs).Objective To map perceived changes in overall food intake among adolescent athletes during the previous year, as well as weekly changes during a 3-month period and to examine how these changes are associated with mental health, physical load and sex.Methods A total of 168 high school athletes from eight different sports participated. A baseline questionnaire examined changes in training habits and food intake in the past year, mental health (short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS)), injury history and previous periods of poor psychological health. Weekly digital questionnaires for 3 months tracked weekly physical and mental load and changes in food intake. Comparative and correlation analyses were performed with p<0.05 considered significant.Results A decreased food intake during the previous year was reported more often among athletes experiencing periods of poor mental health than those without such periods (10% vs 2%; p=0.034). Athletes who decreased their food intake reported lower mental well-being than athletes who increased their food intake (mean difference in SWEMWBS=4.69±1.57; p=0.021). Over a 3-month period, most athletes did not change their food intake, yet fluctuations in physical load were reported.Conclusion This study showed that athletes experiencing lower mental health or period(s) of poor mental health reported decreased food intake more often than those with better mental health or those without period(s) of poor mental health. In addition, the mismatch found between perceived weekly changes in overall food intake and changes in physical load during the same time period could potentially result in an increased risk for LEA.https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2024/12/11/bmjnph-2024-000954.full |
| spellingShingle | Maria Larsson Ida Lindman Josefin Abrahamson Agneta Hörnell Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health |
| title | Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes |
| title_full | Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes |
| title_fullStr | Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes |
| title_short | Prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes |
| title_sort | prospective study of food intake changes in adolescent elite athletes |
| url | https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2024/12/11/bmjnph-2024-000954.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marialarsson prospectivestudyoffoodintakechangesinadolescenteliteathletes AT idalindman prospectivestudyoffoodintakechangesinadolescenteliteathletes AT josefinabrahamson prospectivestudyoffoodintakechangesinadolescenteliteathletes AT agnetahornell prospectivestudyoffoodintakechangesinadolescenteliteathletes |