Energy Availability, Body Composition, and Phase Angle Among Adolescent Artistic Gymnasts During a Competitive Season.

The study sample consisted of 30 non-elite adolescent artistic gymnasts with nearly all participants falling within normal BMI range.

• Thirty non-elite artistic gymnasts aged 11-14 years participated in this cross-sectional study.
• All participants were classified within the normal BMI category, except for one who was classified as being overweight.
• BMI was assessed using the World Health Organization growth charts.

Participants demonstrated normal body composition with mean fat mass of 16.1% and fat-free mass of 83.9%.

• Mean (± SD) fat mass was 16.1 ± 3.4%.
• Mean (± SD) fat-free mass (FFM) was 83.9 ± 3.4%.
• Body composition was assessed via bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Phase angle (φ) of the gymnasts was 6.0 ± 0.6°, and the 95% confidence ellipses of impedance vectors differed significantly from the reference population.

• Mean (± SD) phase angle was 6.0 ± 0.6°.
• The 95% confidence ellipses of the impedance (Z) vectors were compared with a reference population using the two-sample Hotelling's T2 test.
• The 95% confidence ellipses of Z vectors differed significantly from the reference population.

Energy balance was near zero and energy availability was above the threshold for low energy availability.

• Mean (± SD) energy balance was 32 ± 223 kcal/day.
• Mean (± SD) energy availability was 49.2 ± 11.4 kcal/kg FFM/day.
• Diet and physical activity were recorded for three days to estimate energy intake, total energy expenditure, and exercise energy expenditure.
• The authors concluded there were no clear indications of low energy availability (LEA) during the competitive season.

Energy availability was significantly correlated with energy balance, total energy expenditure, and body composition variables.

• Correlations between variables were examined by Pearson's or Spearman's correlation analysis.
• Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.
• Energy availability showed significant correlations with energy balance (EB), total energy expenditure (TEE), and body composition variables.