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Relationship between Energy Availability and Phenotype in Free-Living Athletes.

Rueda-Córdoba M, Martin-Olmedo JJ, Espinar S, Ruiz JR, Jurado-Fasoli L. · International journal of sports medicine · 2026

This study examined how energy availability affects body composition, diet, sleep, and well-being in 75 Spanish elite and pre-elite athletes across different sports. Surprisingly, athletes with low energy availability showed higher bone mineral markers than those with adequate energy availability, while other measures like fat mass and lean mass showed no significant differences.
Takeaway: Consider that low energy availability's effects on athletic health are more complex than simple nutritional deficiency and may require personalized assessment beyond standard recommendations.
Abstract (source)

Abstract This study

Aims: to explore the impact of energy availability on body composition, dietary intake, sleep quality, and subjective well-being in free-living Spanish athletes across different sports disciplines. A total of 75 elite and pre-elite athletes (27 women; 24.9±5.9 y) were included. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, bioimpedance, and anthropometry; the diet was assessed using dietary recalls and food-frequency questionnaires; sleep quality was determined using a wrist-worn accelerometer; and subjective well-being was evaluated through validated questionnaires. We observed, counter to common hypothesis, that athletes with low energy availability showed higher levels of bone-related markers (i.e., bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and Z -score) compared to those with adequate energy availability (all p p p >0.05). Overall, these

Results: suggest that factors like metabolic adaptations, activity patterns, and individual behaviors may influence the relationship between energy availability and athletic performance in real-world settings. Low energy availability's complexities extend beyond simple nutritional deficiencies, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to managing energy availability and optimizing athletes' performance and health.

Primary studyRecovery & Sleep
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