Effects of a 16-Week Digital Intervention on Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behavior in Female Endurance Athletes with Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)

Ida L. Fahrenholtz; Anna K. Melin; Ina Garthe; Siri Marte Hollekim-Strand; Andreas Ivarsson; Karsten Koehler; Danielle Logue; Petra Lundström; Sharon Madigan; Paulina Wasserfurth; Monica K. Torstveit

doi:10.3390/nu15051082

Effects of a 16-Week Digital Intervention on Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behavior in Female Endurance Athletes with Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)

Ida L. Fahrenholtz, Anna K. Melin, Ina Garthe, Siri Marte Hollekim-Strand, Andreas Ivarsson, Karsten Koehler, Danielle Logue, Petra Lundström, Sharon Madigan, Paulina Wasserfurth, Monica K. Torstveit

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Female endurance athletes are considered a high-risk group for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Due to the lack of educational and behavioral intervention studies, targeting and evaluating the effects of the practical daily management of REDs, we developed the Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes—a Learning (FUEL) program, consisting of 16 weekly online lectures and individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week. We recruited female endurance athletes from Norway (n = 60), Sweden (n = 84), Ireland (n = 17), and Germany (n = 47). Fifty athletes with symptoms of REDs and with low risk of eating disorders, with no use of hormonal contraceptives and no chronic diseases, were allocated to either the FUEL intervention (n = 32) (FUEL) or a 16-week control period (n = 18) (CON). All but one completed FUEL, while 15 completed CON. We found strong evidence for improvements in sports nutrition knowledge, assessed via interviews, and moderate to strong evidence in the ratings concerning self-perceived sports nutrition knowledge in FUEL versus CON. Analyses of the seven-day prospective weighed food record and questions related to sports nutrition habits, suggested weak evidence for improvements in FUEL versus CON. The FUEL intervention improved sports nutrition knowledge and suggested weak evidence for improved sports nutrition behavior in female endurance athletes with symptoms of REDs.

Original language	English
Article number	1082
Pages (from-to)	1-20
Number of pages	20
Journal	Nutrients
Volume	15
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051082
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 21 Feb 2023

Data Access Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Funding

This work was supported by Grants from the University of Agder in Norway and the Norwegian Olympic Sports Center.

Keywords

athlete injuries
digestion
female athlete triad
diet therapy
endurance training
menstruation disturbances
women's health

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10.3390/nu15051082

b9760457-ed1d-4ec2-8ba3-3f19a657fe24Final published version, 1.83 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Fahrenholtz, I. L., Melin, A. K., Garthe, I., Hollekim-Strand, S. M., Ivarsson, A., Koehler, K., Logue, D., Lundström, P., Madigan, S., Wasserfurth, P., & Torstveit, M. K. (2023). Effects of a 16-Week Digital Intervention on Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behavior in Female Endurance Athletes with Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Nutrients, 15(5), 1-20. Article 1082. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051082

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abstract = "Female endurance athletes are considered a high-risk group for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Due to the lack of educational and behavioral intervention studies, targeting and evaluating the effects of the practical daily management of REDs, we developed the Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes—a Learning (FUEL) program, consisting of 16 weekly online lectures and individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week. We recruited female endurance athletes from Norway (n = 60), Sweden (n = 84), Ireland (n = 17), and Germany (n = 47). Fifty athletes with symptoms of REDs and with low risk of eating disorders, with no use of hormonal contraceptives and no chronic diseases, were allocated to either the FUEL intervention (n = 32) (FUEL) or a 16-week control period (n = 18) (CON). All but one completed FUEL, while 15 completed CON. We found strong evidence for improvements in sports nutrition knowledge, assessed via interviews, and moderate to strong evidence in the ratings concerning self-perceived sports nutrition knowledge in FUEL versus CON. Analyses of the seven-day prospective weighed food record and questions related to sports nutrition habits, suggested weak evidence for improvements in FUEL versus CON. The FUEL intervention improved sports nutrition knowledge and suggested weak evidence for improved sports nutrition behavior in female endurance athletes with symptoms of REDs.",

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author = "Fahrenholtz, \{Ida L.\} and Melin, \{Anna K.\} and Ina Garthe and Hollekim-Strand, \{Siri Marte\} and Andreas Ivarsson and Karsten Koehler and Danielle Logue and Petra Lundstr{\"o}m and Sharon Madigan and Paulina Wasserfurth and Torstveit, \{Monica K.\}",

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Fahrenholtz, IL, Melin, AK, Garthe, I, Hollekim-Strand, SM, Ivarsson, A, Koehler, K, Logue, D, Lundström, P, Madigan, S, Wasserfurth, P & Torstveit, MK 2023, 'Effects of a 16-Week Digital Intervention on Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behavior in Female Endurance Athletes with Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)', Nutrients, vol. 15, no. 5, 1082, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051082

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AU - Fahrenholtz, Ida L.

AU - Melin, Anna K.

AU - Garthe, Ina

AU - Hollekim-Strand, Siri Marte

AU - Ivarsson, Andreas

AU - Koehler, Karsten

AU - Logue, Danielle

AU - Lundström, Petra

AU - Madigan, Sharon

AU - Wasserfurth, Paulina

AU - Torstveit, Monica K.

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N2 - Female endurance athletes are considered a high-risk group for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Due to the lack of educational and behavioral intervention studies, targeting and evaluating the effects of the practical daily management of REDs, we developed the Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes—a Learning (FUEL) program, consisting of 16 weekly online lectures and individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week. We recruited female endurance athletes from Norway (n = 60), Sweden (n = 84), Ireland (n = 17), and Germany (n = 47). Fifty athletes with symptoms of REDs and with low risk of eating disorders, with no use of hormonal contraceptives and no chronic diseases, were allocated to either the FUEL intervention (n = 32) (FUEL) or a 16-week control period (n = 18) (CON). All but one completed FUEL, while 15 completed CON. We found strong evidence for improvements in sports nutrition knowledge, assessed via interviews, and moderate to strong evidence in the ratings concerning self-perceived sports nutrition knowledge in FUEL versus CON. Analyses of the seven-day prospective weighed food record and questions related to sports nutrition habits, suggested weak evidence for improvements in FUEL versus CON. The FUEL intervention improved sports nutrition knowledge and suggested weak evidence for improved sports nutrition behavior in female endurance athletes with symptoms of REDs.

AB - Female endurance athletes are considered a high-risk group for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). Due to the lack of educational and behavioral intervention studies, targeting and evaluating the effects of the practical daily management of REDs, we developed the Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes—a Learning (FUEL) program, consisting of 16 weekly online lectures and individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week. We recruited female endurance athletes from Norway (n = 60), Sweden (n = 84), Ireland (n = 17), and Germany (n = 47). Fifty athletes with symptoms of REDs and with low risk of eating disorders, with no use of hormonal contraceptives and no chronic diseases, were allocated to either the FUEL intervention (n = 32) (FUEL) or a 16-week control period (n = 18) (CON). All but one completed FUEL, while 15 completed CON. We found strong evidence for improvements in sports nutrition knowledge, assessed via interviews, and moderate to strong evidence in the ratings concerning self-perceived sports nutrition knowledge in FUEL versus CON. Analyses of the seven-day prospective weighed food record and questions related to sports nutrition habits, suggested weak evidence for improvements in FUEL versus CON. The FUEL intervention improved sports nutrition knowledge and suggested weak evidence for improved sports nutrition behavior in female endurance athletes with symptoms of REDs.

KW - athlete injuries

KW - digestion

KW - female athlete triad

KW - diet therapy

KW - endurance training

KW - menstruation disturbances

KW - women's health

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DO - 10.3390/nu15051082

M3 - Article

SN - 2072-6643

VL - 15

SP - 1

EP - 20

JO - Nutrients

JF - Nutrients

IS - 5

M1 - 1082

ER -

Effects of a 16-Week Digital Intervention on Sports Nutrition Knowledge and Behavior in Female Endurance Athletes with Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)

Abstract

Data Access Statement

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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