Perceptions Of Weight And Nutrition On Performance Among Division 1 Distance Runners, A Pilot Study

Low energy availability leads to subsequent changes to endocrine function and bone health as described by the Female and Male Athlete Triad. Sports where “leanness” is encouraged has been hypothesized to promote decreased energy intake. While prior studies suggest that a majority of young distance runners exhibit the perception that thinness improves running performance, the examination of these perceptions in male and female collegiate runners is limited. PURPOSE: Evaluate National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate distance runners’ perceptions of body habitus and nutrition on athletic performance. METHODS: These data represent a secondary analysis from a larger nutritional intervention study among NCAA Division I collegiate runners. A survey including a combination of five questions using a Likert scale from validated questionnaires addressing runners’ perceptions regarding nutrition and body habitus effects on athletic performance was distributed as an online questionnaire to Division I distance (>800 meters) runners. RESULTS: Fifteen collegiate runners (10 females, 5 males; BMI: 20.2 ± 1.2 kg/m2; running 47.8 ± 24.2 miles/week) from 3 NCAA Division I teams completed perception questions. Approximately half (n = 8, 53.3%) of runners indicated 1) the belief that having a low body weight will help them run fast and 2) the concern that if they were to gain weight, their performance would decrease. Alternatively, nearly all runners disagreed (n = 8, 53.3%) or strongly disagreed (n = 5, 33.3%) that losing weight would improve performance. Most agreed (n = 5, 33.3%) or strongly agreed (n = 5, 33.3%) that they need to make an effort to replace calories burned from exercise. CONCLUSION: Findings from the collegiate runner sample suggest competing perceptions regarding energy intake, body weight, and performance. Further research from this ongoing study and future research investigations are needed to clarify runners’ perceptions and understand motivations and barriers to optimally fueling their exercise training, which may benefit performance and reduce injury risk. The study is funded by the Pac-12 Student-Athlete Health and Well-Being Grant Program.