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Energy Availability, Body Composition, and Phase Angle Among Adolescent Artistic Gymnasts During a Competitive Season
Anneta Grompanopoulou1, Antigoni Kypraiou2, Dimitrios C Milosis2
1Laboratory of Hygiene, Social & Preventive Medicine and Medical Statistics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Nutrients
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Adolescent gymnasts maintained adequate energy availability (EA) and normal body composition during their competitive season. This suggests no clear signs of low energy availability (LEA) in this group of young athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Nutritional Physiology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Energy availability (EA) is crucial for athletic performance and health, with low energy availability (LEA) linked to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
- Adolescent athletes, particularly in demanding sports like gymnastics, may be at risk for EA disturbances.
- Understanding EA, body composition, and phase angle (φ) in young gymnasts is vital for monitoring their well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess energy availability (EA), body composition, and phase angle (φ) in adolescent artistic gymnasts.
- To investigate the relationship between EA and body composition metrics in this athletic population.
- To determine if non-elite adolescent gymnasts exhibit signs of LEA during their competitive season.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 30 non-elite artistic gymnasts (aged 11-14 years).
- Assessment of anthropometrics, body mass index (BMI), and body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
- Calculation of energy balance (EB) and EA using 3-day diet and physical activity records; comparison of impedance vectors to a reference population.
Main Results:
- Participants generally had normal BMI, fat mass, fat-free mass (FFM), and phase angle (φ).
- Mean energy availability (EA) was 49.2 ± 11.4 kcal/kg FFM/day, with a mean energy balance (EB) of 32 ± 223 kcal/day.
- EA was significantly correlated with EB, total energy expenditure (TEE), and body composition variables.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent non-elite artistic gymnasts demonstrated adequate EA and normal body composition during the competitive season.
- No clear indications of low energy availability (LEA) were observed in this cohort.
- Findings suggest that these young gymnasts maintained physiological health markers consistent with sufficient energy intake relative to expenditure.
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