Disponibilidad energética y salud en atletas: análisis multidimensional según la disciplina deportiva e influencia del método de evaluación
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Athletes’ health and performance might depend on maintaining adequate energy availability. Energy availability refers to the amount of dietary energy remaining for the body’s physiological functions after subtracting the energy expended during exercise. When energy availability is chronically insufficient, it can impair metabolic and hormonal regulation, alter body composition, and negatively affect psychological well-being, ultimately compromising both performance and long-term health. Therefore, understanding the phenotypic outcomes (i.e., diet, body composition, sleep quality) that might be related to energy availability and methodological approaches for assessing it is crucial to optimize training strategies and to prevent potential health-related consequences. The present Doctoral Thesis aimed to analyze the multidimensional differences among athletes from different sport disciplines (Study I), to examine the relationship between energy availability and body composition, dietary intake, sleep quality, and subjective well-being (Study II), and to evaluate the influence of the method used to assess fat free mass on the estimation of energy availability (Study III). A total of 77 Spanish athletes (49 men and 28 women), representing endurance, strength, and intermittent sports, participated in the current Doctoral Thesis. Findings of Study I showed that strength and intermittent athletes exhibit higher lean and bone mass than endurance athletes, who are characterized by lower adiposity, higher carbohydrate intake, and greater vigorous physical activity. In addition, Study II showed no significant associations between energy availability and body composition, sleep, or well-being. However, athletes with low energy availability showed higher bone-related parameters, greater protein intake, lower carbohydrate intake, and a tendency toward increased fatigue. Lastly, Study III demonstrated that the method for estimating fat-free mass substantially influences energy availability values and athlete classification, evidencing a major methodological challenge for both research and applied practice. Overall, the current Doctoral Thesis provides new insights into how energy availability, sport discipline, and assessment methodology jointly affect the athlete’s physiological and psychological profile, contributing to the development of evidencebased strategies aimed at optimizing performance and preventing health impairments related to energy availability.
Author: Rueda Córdoba, Marcos
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7171479765