Measurement of Energy Intake Using the Principle of Energy Balance Overcomes a Critical Limitation in the Assessment of Energy Availability

Sports Medicine - Open

Current Opinion

Sophie L. Wardle¹  Thomas J. O’Leary¹  Julie P. Greeves²  Robert M. Gifford³  Caroline A. Tarnowski⁴  Gareth A. Wallis⁴ 

[1] Army Health and Performance Research, Army Headquarters, Andover, UK;Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK;Army Health and Performance Research, Army Headquarters, Andover, UK;Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK;Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK;British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK;Research and Clinical Innovation, Royal Centre of Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK;School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK;

关键词: Low energy availability;    Relative energy deficiency in sport;    Female and male athlete triad;    Exercise;    Nutrition;    Athlete;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40798-023-00558-8

 received in 2022-06-07, accepted in 2023-02-04,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Prolonged low energy availability, which is the underpinning aetiology of the Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and the Female and Male Athlete Triad frameworks, can have unfavourable impacts on both health and performance in athletes. Energy availability is calculated as energy intake minus exercise energy expenditure, expressed relative to fat free mass. The current measurement of energy intake is recognized as a major limitation for assessing energy availability due to its reliance on self-report methods, in addition to its short-term nature. This article introduces the application of the energy balance method for the measurement of energy intake, within the context of energy availability. The energy balance method requires quantification of the change in body energy stores over time, with concurrent measurement of total energy expenditure. This provides an objective calculation of energy intake, which can then be used for the assessment of energy availability. This approach, the Energy Availability - Energy Balance (EAEB) method, increases the reliance on objective measurements, provides an indication of energy availability status over longer periods and removes athlete burden to self-report energy intake. Implementation of the EAEB method could be used to objectively identify and detect low energy availability, with implications for the diagnosis and management of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and the Female and Male Athlete Triad.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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