Energy deficiency and nutrition in endurance sports – focus on rowing

Athletes and particularly endurance athletes, such as rowers, expend considerably more energy than their sedentary counterparts, which increases their risk of failing to match these elevated requirements through their diet. Contrary to textbook knowledge, the resulting state of energy deficiency does not necessarily lead to weight loss, as metabolic adaptations can conserve energy to return to energy balance at a lower set-point. › The purpose of this mini-review was to focus on energy deficiency in endurance athletes, with special reference to the sport of rowing. A secondary purpose was to present practical approaches for the detection of energy-deficient athletes and strategies to alleviate some of the effects detrimental to athletic performance. › We present an approach of combining indirect calorimetry and advanced imaging to quantify reductions in resting metabolic rate, which can be reduced by as much as 10% in energy-deficient athletes and has been linked to performance impairments. While dietary treatment should be the first approach in these cases, there are situations in which a negative balance cannot be avoided, such as desired weight loss or sports which emphasize low body weights or leanness. › As energy conservation is linked to the downregulation of key endocrine pathways related to musculoskeletal health, we explore strategies that protect the functional capacity of lean tissues in these states, including targeted exercise and increased dietary protein consumption.