PhD-thesis
Development and Evaluation of the FUEL Program
A Sports Nutrition Intervention for Female Endurance Athletes at Risk of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)
- Trial lecture starts at 10:15
- Public defence starts at 12:30
Title of trial lecture:
The Sex Gap in REDs: How and Why Do Men and Women Differ?
Read the thesis in NVA
Disputation chair: Professor Sveinung Berntsen Stølevik, Head of Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder
Assessment committee:
- 1. opponent: Professor Øyvind Sandbakk, Sports Director at Norwegian School of Elite Sports (NTG) and Centre for Elite Sports Research (SenTIF), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- 2. opponent: Professor Juliane Heydenreich, Experimenta Sports Nutrition at Leipzig University, Germany
- Chair of the evaluation committee Associate Professor Silje Halvorsen Sveaas, Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder
Supervisors in the doctoral work:
- Main supervisor: Professor Monica Klungland Torstveit, Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder
- Co-supervisors:
- PhD Ina Garthe, Mananger Sport Nutrition, Olympic Federation Norway
- Professor Anna Melin, Department of Sport Science, Linnæus University, Sweden
Summary of thesis
It can be challenging for female endurance athletes to consume enough energy from food to support their health and performance, leading to a syndrome known as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). This syndrome can result in various health and performance issues, including menstrual dysfunction, reduced bone health, and an increased risk of injury. Further research is needed to investigate possible REDs risk factors. Moreover, given the high estimated prevalence of REDs among female endurance athletes and the lack of documented preventive interventions, it is important to develop preventive strategies that are thoroughly evaluated.
This project aimed to develop and evaluate the FUEL program, a digital sports nutrition intervention designed for female endurance athletes at risk of REDs, consisting of weekly sports nutrition lections and individual sports nutrition consultations every other week for 16 weeks. The project had four main aims: 1) Identifying the risk of REDs and potential risk factors and exploring associations within a European multicounty cohort of female endurance athletes, 2) investigating the effects of the FUEL program on sports nutrition knowledge and dietary intake, 3) examining the effects and long-term changes of the FUEL program on REDs symptoms, and 4) evaluating athletes' experiences with the program.
The study found that 65% of athletes were at risk of REDs, 21% had disordered eating, and 23% were categorized with exercise addiction. The FUEL participants had great improvements in sports nutrition knowledge with modest effects on dietary intake. Six and twelve months after the intervention, athletes showed improvements in menstrual and gastrointestinal function and reduced symptoms of disordered eating and exercise addiction. Athletes reported high satisfaction with the program, finding it motivating and educational. The digital format was seen as an advantage, and participants experienced positive physical and mental changes.
This study highlights the complexity of REDs among female endurance athletes and the need for prevention and treatment. The results on nutrition knowledge, behavior, and REDs symptoms combined with the positive participant evaluation suggest that the FUEL program can be a valuable tool for managing REDs, emphasizing the importance of tailored knowledge updates and counseling in sports nutrition.
What to do as an online audience member
The disputation is open to the public. To follow the trial lecture and the public defence online, register on Zoom.
We ask online audience members to join no earlier than 10 minutes in advance. After these times, you can leave and rejoin the meeting at any time.
Opponent ex auditorio:
Deadline for the public to pose questions is during the break between the two opponents. Questions ex auditorio can be submitted to disputation chair Sveinung Berntsen Stølevik, copy PhD-adm. Eli Andås.