Fueling Athletes: What Metabolic Rates Reveal About Health

Athletes push their bodies to the limit, but what happens when they don't fuel them right? Low energy availability, or LEA, occurs when athletes don't consume enough calories to match their energy output. This imbalance can lead to health issues. One way to check for LEA is by looking at the resting metabolic rate ratio (RMRratio). This ratio compares an athlete's measured RMR to their predicted RMR. A ratio below 0. 9 might indicate chronic energy deficiency. A recent study looked at 49 competitive athletes from various sports. They measured each athlete's RMR using indirect calorimetry and predicted RMR using different equations. The study found that the prevalence of metabolic suppression, indicated by an RMRratio below 0. 9, varied widely. Depending on the predictive equation used, between 34. 7% and 93. 9% of athletes were classified as having metabolic suppression. Interestingly, the study found no significant link between energy availability and either RMR or RMRratio. However, athletes with an RMRratio of 0. 9 or higher had some notable differences. They had higher visceral adipose tissue mass, bone mineral content, and density. Plus, they reported better sleep patterns, less inactivity, higher self-perceived performance, and lower stress levels. So, what does this all mean? While the RMRratio might not directly indicate energy availability, it does seem to correlate with various physiological, behavioral, and psychological factors. This suggests that monitoring RMRratio could provide valuable insights into an athlete's overall health and well-being.