Energy balance and food consumption in female basketball players

Energy Balance and Food Consumption in Female Basketball Players. Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences Sports Sciences and Technology Program Master Thesis, Ankara, 2019. The aim of this study was to determine the energy balance and energy availability as well as macro and micro nutrients consumption of female basketball players. A total of 30 females, 15 professional basketball players and 15 non-exercising age matched (age: 18-22 yrs) participated in the study. The resting metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetric method, body composition was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometer. Daily energy intake and expenditure, exercise energy expenditure, energy balance, energy availability, macro-micro nutrients and liquid intake were determined by taking 3-day food consumption and physical activity records. T test for Independent Samples was used to compare the study groups. Daily energy intake and expenditure of female basketball players were 2136.5 ± 594.9 kcal and 2953.8 ± 614.5 kcal, respectively. Eighty percent of basketball players were in negative energy balance, 40% presented low energy availability and 46.7% showed reduced energy availability. Carbohydrate and protein consumption of basketball players were 3.36 g/kg/day and 1.25 g/kg/day, respectively. However, protein intake was inaduqate in 66.6% of the basketball players and carbohydrate intake was insufficent in all of them. In addition, daily fat consumption constitutes 41.7% of total energy intake. Daily consumption of major minerals were (calcium 869.3 mg, iron 12.9 mg and potassium 2.6 g) were all found to be below the recommendations. Since 80% of the female basketball players evaluated in this study were in negative energy balance and 40% presented low energy availability, insufficient intake of carbonhydrate, protein, major micronutrients and fiber as well as with high fat consumption suggests that it is necessary to monitor the athletes individually for energy and nutrition requirements and take the necessary precautions.