Uriegas Nancy A, Emerson Dawn M, Winkelmann Zachary K, Ortaglia Andrew, Torres-McGehee Toni M
Department of Health and Human Performance, College of Education, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Nutrients. 2024 Nov 30;16(23):4160. doi: 10.3390/nu16234160.
Low energy availability (LEA) is common among female student-athletes and contributes to reduced bone mineral density and hormonal dysfunction. However, limited research exists on student-athletes of color, making it difficult to generalize results across populations, particularly Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) student-athletes.
This study examined the energy needs and LEA prevalence, with or without eating disorder (ED) risk, among HBCU female student-athletes.
Twenty-seven female student-athletes (age = 19 ± 1 year; height = 166.9 ± 7.6 cm; weight = 68.8 ± 11.3 kg) completed baseline measures, including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), EDI-3 symptom checklist (EDI-SC), anthropometric measures, and resting metabolic rate (RMR). Participants maintained a dietary log to measure energy intake and wore a heart rate monitor to estimate exercise energy expenditures for 7 days. LEA was defined as <30 kcal/kg of fat-free mass (FFM)/day.
The mean energy availability (15.9 ± 10.1 kcal/kg FFM/day) indicated 92.6% of participants ( = 25) displayed LEA; of those, 60% ( = 15) had LEA with ED risk. ED risk was identified in 59.3% of student-athletes ( = 13; EDI-3: = 2; SC: = 3; Both: = 11). Interestingly, of the two student-athletes without LEA, one was identified at risk for EDs using both the EDI-3 and SC.
HBCU female student-athletes face high risks of LEA and EDs, with most showing signs of both. This underscores the need for culturally sensitive interventions to improve EA and support mental health in this underserved group. Clinicians should focus on nutrition education and early ED identification to enhance long-term health and athletic performance.
低能量可利用性（LEA）在女学生运动员中很常见，会导致骨密度降低和激素功能紊乱。然而，针对有色人种学生运动员的研究有限，这使得难以将研究结果推广至所有人群，尤其是历史悠久的黑人学院和大学（HBCUs）的学生运动员。
本研究调查了HBCU女学生运动员的能量需求和LEA患病率，以及是否存在饮食失调（ED）风险。
27名女学生运动员（年龄=19±1岁；身高=166.9±7.6厘米；体重=68.8±11.3千克）完成了基线测量，包括饮食失调量表-3（EDI-3）、EDI-3症状清单（EDI-SC）、人体测量指标和静息代谢率（RMR）。参与者记录饮食日志以测量能量摄入，并佩戴心率监测器以估计7天的运动能量消耗。LEA定义为<30千卡/千克去脂体重（FFM）/天。
平均能量可利用性（15.9±10.1千卡/千克FFM/天）表明92.6%的参与者（n=25）存在LEA；其中，60%（n=15）的人存在LEA且有ED风险。59.3%的学生运动员（n=13；EDI-3：n=2；SC：n=3；两者皆有：n=11）被确定存在ED风险。有趣的是，在两名没有LEA的学生运动员中，有一名使用EDI-3和SC均被确定有ED风险。
HBCU女学生运动员面临LEA和ED的高风险，大多数人同时表现出这两种情况的迹象。这凸显了需要采取具有文化敏感性的干预措施来改善能量可利用性并支持这个服务不足群体的心理健康。临床医生应专注于营养教育和早期ED识别，以促进长期健康和运动表现。
