INTRODUCTION: Energy demands of the Australian Football League-Women`s (AFLW) competition, combined with limited investment in nutrition support, may result in issues regarding energy availability (EA). There is little published data on EA in female team-sport athletes, with most research focusing on the risk of low energy availability (LEA), as inferred from subjective questionnaires likely due to the difficulty in quantifying energy expenditure (EE). The aims of this study were to quantify EA in AFLW players while contrasting outcomes against validated questionnaires and to investigate associations between dietary intake, EE and EA in AFLW players. METHODS: Over 10 consecutive days during pre-season (including four training days), EI and EE were collected in 14 elite AFLW players. Weighed food diaries were recorded using the smartphone application Easy Diet Diary (Xyris Software, Australia). Exercise EE was quantified using individual algorithms, developed from accelerometer data (PlayerloadTM, Catapult Innovations, Scoresby Australia) and oxygen uptake during a maximal aerobic capacity test. PlayerloadTM data was collected during field training and the algorithm used to estimate EE. The SenseWearTM Armband was used to determine EE outside of field training. Fat-free mass (FFM) was measured via Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA, Hologic, QDR) and resting metabolic rate was measured via indirect calorimetry (Cosmed Quark, Italy), EA was calculated on training and non-training days, with LEA =30cal/kg FFM. The low energy availability in female`s questionnaire (LEAF-Q) was administered to determine the risk of LEA. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the effect of dietary intake and EE on EA. RESULTS: There was no difference in EA between training [44.3(14.0) cal/kg of FFM] and non-training [14(12.8) cal/kg of FFM] days. EI, carbohydrate (CHO) and protein intake were higher on training vs non-training days (p<0.001). Total daily CHO, protein and fat intake were associated with EA on both training (ß=0.070, ß=0.077, ß=0.133, p<0.001, respectively) and non-training (ß=0.080, ß=0.064, ß=0.153 p<0.001, respectively) days. There was an association between total daily EE and EA on non-training days (ß=-0.001, p=0.019). On training days, 1/14 (14.3%) players were classified as LEA and on non-training days 2/14 (7.1%) of players were classified as LEA. The LEAF-Q classified 5/14 (35%) of players as at risk of LEA. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate EA using objective measures in female team-sport athletes. Irrespective of training, EA remained stable, whilst dietary intake differed, likely a result of the varying EE. The identification of AFLW players `at risk` of LEA via LEAF-Q was higher compared to objective measures indicating that the LEAF-Q, validated in endurance athletes, may over-represent LEA in team sport athletes. To accurately assess EA in female team-sport athletes, a validated method to measure exercise EE and tool to assess the risk of LEA is required.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Veröffentlicht von Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.