Energy availability in female athletes and non-athletes taking oral contraceptive pills

• Author / Creator

  Drager, Kelly L

• The purpose of this study was to estimate energy availability (EA) in healthy females taking oral contraceptive pills (OCP). Participants (n=12 athletes and n=11 non-athletes) completed 2 separate 7-day dietary intake and exercise energy expenditure (EEE) logs across two consecutive pill cycles. Recording started between days 1 - 4 of the individual’s pill cycle. Resting energy expenditure was measured and used to correct MET values to determine EEE. The groups were similar in age, weight, BMI, age of menarche, and gynecological age. Athletes had significantly higher fat free mass and lower percent body fat (p<0.001). Their EA (33 and 31 kcal/kg FFM/day week 1 and 2, respectively) was statistically lower (p<0.001) than the non-athlete group (49 and 47 kcal/kg FFM/day week 1 and 2, respectively). Compared to the EA weight maintenance recommendations reported in the literature, EA values of these athletes are lower.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Energy availability
  • Female athlete
  • Oral contraceptive pills

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R38H28

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.