AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-reported indicators of low energy availability (LEA-I) and race performance as well as medical incidents during the Boston Marathon.
  • A survey of 1,030 runners revealed a higher prevalence of LEA-I in females (42.5%) compared to males (17.6%), with athletes experiencing LEA-I performing worse in terms of race times and placement.
  • The findings indicated that runners with LEA-I had significantly increased risks of medical encounters during the race, underscoring the negative impacts of low energy availability on marathon performance and health.

Article Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between survey-based self-reported problematic low energy availability indicators (LEA-I) and race performance and intra-event medical encounters during the Boston Marathon.

Methods: 1030 runners who were registered for the 2022 Boston Marathon completed an electronic survey (1-4 weeks pre-race) assessing LEA-I, training and medical history. De-identified survey data were linked to event wearable timing chips and medical encounter records. LEA-I was defined as: an elevated Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire score, elevated Low Energy Availability (LEA) in Females Questionnaire score, LEA in Males Questionnaire with a focus on gonadal dysfunction score and/or self-report of diagnosed eating disorder/disordered eating.

Results: The prevalence of LEA-I was 232/546 (42.5%) in females and 85/484 (17.6%) in males. Athletes without LEA-I (non-LEA-I) achieved significantly better race times versus those with LEA-I (accounting for demographic and anthropomorphic data, training history and marathon experience), along with better division finishing place (DFP) mean outcomes (women's DFP: 948.9±57.6 versus 1377.4±82.9, p<0.001; men's DFP: 794.6±41.0 versus 1262.4±103.3, p<0.001). Compared with non-LEA-I athletes, LEA-I athletes had 1.99-fold (95% CI: 1.15 to 3.43) increased relative risk (RR) of an intra-event medical encounter of any severity level, and a 2.86-fold increased RR (95% CI:1.31 to 6.24) of a major medical encounter.

Conclusion: This is the largest study to link LEA-I to intra-event athletic performance and medical encounters. LEA-I were associated with worse race performance and increased risk of intra-event medical encounters, supporting the negative performance and medical risks associated with problematic LEA-I in marathon athletes.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108181DOI Listing

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