Short Severe Energy Restriction with Refueling Reduces Body Mass without Altering Training-Associated Performance Improvement

PURPOSE: We investigated short-term (9 d) exposure to low energy availability (LEA) in elite endurance athletes during a block of intensified training on self-reported well-being, body composition, and performance. METHODS: Twenty-three highly trained race walkers undertook an ~3-wk research-embedded training camp during which they undertook baseline testing and 6 d of high energy/carbohydrate (HCHO) availability (40 kcal·kg FFM(−1)·d(−1)) before being allocated to 9 d continuation of this diet (n = 10 M, 2 F) or a significant decrease in energy availability to 15 kcal·kg FFM(−1)·d(−1) (LEA: n = 10 M, 1 F). A real-world 10,000-m race walking event was undertaken before (baseline) and after (adaptation) these phases, with races being preceded by standardized carbohydrate fueling (8 g·kg body mass [BM](−1) for 24 h and 2 g·kg BM(−1) prerace meal). RESULTS: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry–assessed body composition showed BM loss (2.0 kg, P < 0.001), primarily due to a 1.6-kg fat mass reduction (P < 0.001) in LEA, with smaller losses (BM = 0.9 kg, P = 0.008; fat mass = 0.9 kg, P < 0.001) in HCHO. The 76-item Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes, undertaken at the end of each dietary phase, showed significant diet–trial effects for overall stress (P = 0.021), overall recovery (P = 0.024), sport-specific stress (P = 0.003), and sport-specific recovery (P = 0.012). However, improvements in race performance were similar: 4.5% ± 4.1% and 3.5% ± 1.8% for HCHO and LEA, respectively (P < 0.001). The relationship between changes in performance and prerace BM was not significant (r = −0.08 [−0.49 to 0.35], P = 0.717). CONCLUSIONS: A series of strategically timed but brief phases of substantially restricted energy availability might achieve ideal race weight as part of a long-term periodization of physique by high-performance athletes, but the relationship between BM, training quality, and performance in weight-dependent endurance sports is complicated.