IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences

ISSN PRINT 2319 1775 Online 2320-7876

Energy Availability and Macronutrient Intake of Elite Indian Adolescent Boxers

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Hima Bindu Malla , Dr Priti Rishi Lal

Abstract

Purpose: Energy availability (EA) has been evidenced to influence health and performance outcomes of elite athletes. However, this has not been reported sufficiently amongst Indian adolescents. Hence, this study aimed to report the daily energy availability of elite Indian adolescent boxers. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 32 state level boxers (females:14; males:18) aged 10–19 years using purposive, saturation sampling and assessed their energy availability. Weight, height, and skinfolds at 4 sites (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) were taken to calculate body fat using Siri‟s equation & Fat free mass (FFM) calculated. Energy intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall method for one day and exercise energy expenditure by activity record method for the same day of training. Boxers were classified as moderate EA (30–45 kcal·kg−1 FFM·day−1) and low EA (< 30 kcal·kg−1 FFM·day−) and compared based on gender using Manwhitney-U test. Results: Among 32 boxers 43.75% were females and 56.25% were males. The mean energy intake of boxers was 2571 ± 609.7 (Females:2137 ± 266.9; Males: 2908 ± 592.5, p=0.0001), exercise energy expenditure was 1369 ± 251 (Females:1260 ± 106; Males: 1453 ± 299, p=0.0006) and energy availability was 24.1 ± 9.1 kcal/Kg FFM (Females: 19.5 ± 5.6; Males:27.8 ± 9.8, p=0.006) per day respectively. The mean carbohydrate intake was 371.8 ± 92.9 (Females:323.8 ± 58.4; Males:409.2 ± 98.8; p=0.013), protein was 88.8 ± 21.8 (Females: 71.3 ± 10.9; Males: 102.5 ± 18.1; p=0.00001) and total fat was 77.1 ± 22.8 (Females: 58.5 ± 6.5; Males: 91.5 ± 20.4; p=0.00001) respectively. 87.5% were categorized to have low EA and the rest 12.5% had optimal EA. No boxer consumed recovery meals within one hour of training, while the LEA group consumed meals less frequently, with higher frequency of junk food consumption and higher frequency of skipped meals as compared to the normal EA group. It was observed that 100% of female boxers and 77.7 % of male boxers had low EA. Conclusions: Occurrence of low EA was higher amongst female boxers than males. This study reveals a need for risk assessment along with conscious food behavior change especially amongst female boxers.

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