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Relationships Between Estimated Hourly Energy Balance and Body Composition in Professional Cheerleaders

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Abstract

Purpose

We sought to describe and examine the interrelationships between energy intake, body composition, and estimated energy balance.

Methods

Using self-reported hourly food intake and formula-based energy expenditure (EE) protocols, 19 female professional cheerleaders (mean age 25.4 years) were assessed to obtain energy balance (EB) for a typical training day. Energy intake (EI) was predicted using the USDA Food Composition Database SR27, and EE was predicted using the Harris-Benedict equation plus a MET-based relative intensity activity scale. Body composition was predicted using a multi-current, 8-mode segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis system. Hourly and daily EB was calculated from EI and EE data.

Results

Subjects reported a 24 h EI significantly below (P < 0.001) the unadjusted predicted energy requirement (1482 kcal vs. 2199 kcal, respectively), resulting in an average negative net EB of − 720 kcal. Carbohydrate intake was significantly below the minimum recommended level (3.1 g/kg vs. 6 g/kg, P < 0.001) while protein and fat intakes met the recommended levels. Higher fat intake (g/kg) was significantly associated with a higher EI kcal/kg (r = 0.726; P < 0.001), which was significantly associated (r = − 0.55; P = 0.01) with a lower body fat percent (BF%). Using the median of BF% (20.9) as the cut point, participants with fewer hours in a negative EB had lower BF% (P = 0.043) and those with lower BF% spent more time in an EB of ± 300 kcal (P = 0.013).

Conclusions

These athletes reported low energy intakes that resulted in large EB deficits and/or more hours in a negative EB, which could be counterproductive for achieving a lean body composition overtime.

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Availability of Data and Material

The datasets generated and/or analyzed as part of the current study are not publicly available due to confidentiality agreements with subjects. However, they can be made available solely for the purpose of review and not for the purpose of publication from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks the athletes and coaches for participating in this study. Special thanks to Emily Goodman, MS, RDN who assisted in data collection.

Funding

Funding was provided by a professional team organization.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Elite Athlete Performance, Department of Nutrition, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Moriah P. Bellissimo & Dan Benardot

  2. Doctoral Program in Nutrition and Health Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Cir NE, WMRB 1337, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Moriah P. Bellissimo

  3. Department of Nutrition, Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Moriah P. Bellissimo, Anita Nucci, Walter Thompson & Dan Benardot

  4. Department of Kinesiology and Health, College of Education and Human Development, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Walter Thompson

  5. Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Ashley D. Licata

  6. Center for the Study of Human Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Dan Benardot

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  1. Moriah P. Bellissimo
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  2. Ashley D. Licata
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Contributions

MPB was responsible for data collection, data interpretation, writing and revision of the manuscript, under the direction and assistance of DB who assisted with each step and completion of the manuscript. ADL assisted in data interpretation and manuscript revisions. WT and AN assisted in manuscript revisions. The authors declare no conflict of interests with the current publication, and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Moriah P. Bellissimo.

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Conflict of interest

DB is the inventor and co-owner of NutriTiming®, which was used to provide energy balance data from completed food and activity records. No other authors declare competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Study protocol was approved by the internal review board of Georgia State University and all participants gave written informed consent prior to study participation.

Consent for publication

Not applicable, no individual person’s data was presented.

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Bellissimo, M.P., Licata, A.D., Nucci, A. et al. Relationships Between Estimated Hourly Energy Balance and Body Composition in Professional Cheerleaders. J. of SCI. IN SPORT AND EXERCISE 1, 69–77 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-019-0004-9

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