Athletic Performance

NAP: Energy Balance and Body Composition (2007)

• Assessment
  In adults and young adults, is there a relationship between energy balance/imbalance, body composition, and/or weight management and athletic performance?

  • Conclusion
    Four studies have reported inconclusive findings related to the effects of energy and protein restriction on athletic performance, but carbohydrate restriction has been shown to be detrimental.   For weight class athletes, two studies show that weight loss preceding athletic competition may have no significant effect on measures of performance, depending on refeeding protocol. 

     
  • Grade: III
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: What is the relationship between energy balance/imbalance, body composition, and/or weight management and athletic performance?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Can F, Yilmaz I, Erden Z. Morphological characteristics and performance variables of women soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2004; 18(3): 480-485.
        
      • Filaire E, Maso F, Degoutte F, Jouanel P, Lac G. Food restriction, performance, psychological state and lipid values in judo athletes. Int J Sports Med. 2001; 22: 454-459. 
      • Finn KJ, Dolgener FA, Williams RB. Effects of carbohydrate refeeding on physiological responses and psychological and physical performance following acute weight reduction in collegiate wrestlers. J Strength Cond Res. 2004; 18 (2): 328-333. 
      • Jarvis M, McNaughton L, Seddon A, Thompson D. The acute 1-week effects of the Zone diet on body composition, blood lipid levels, and performance in recreational athletes. J Str Cond Res. 2002; 16 (1): 50-57. 
      • Mourier A, Bigard AX, deKerviler E, Roger B, Legrand H, Guezennec CY. Combined effects of caloric restriction and branched chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in elite wrestlers. Int J Sports Med. 1997; 18: 47-55.
      • Noel MB, VanHeest JL, Zaneteas P, Rodgers CD. Body composition in Division I football players. J Str Cond Res. 2003; 17 (2): 228-237
      • Tarnopolsky MA, Cipriano N, Woodcroft C, Pulkkinen WJ, Robinson DC, Henderson JM, MacDougall JD. Effects of rapid weight loss and wrestling on muscle glycogen concentration. Clin J Sports Med. 1996; 6 (2): 78-84.  
      • Zachwieja JJ, Ezell DM, Cline AD, Ricketts JC, Vicknair PC, Schorle SM, Ryan DH. Short-term dietary energy restriction reduces lean body mass but not performance in physically active men and women. Int J Sports Med. 2001; 22: 310-316. 
  • Search Plan and Results: Weight Mgmt and Body Comp 2006