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Areas of expertise: sports nutrition, resting metabolic rate, low energy availability, relative energy deficiency in sport, body composition
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9098-9902
Mobile: 0412 219 052
Email: mekuikman@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Melbourne Campus
Megan Kuikman completed her PhD in the Exercise and Nutrition Research Program at Australian Catholic University. Prior to this, Megan was awarded her Master of Science in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph in 2021, and an Honors in Nutrition and Dietetics with Distinction from Western University in 2015. Megan has also completed the London Health Sciences Dietetic Internship and the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition.
During her PhD, Megan investigated factors contributing to variability and error in resting metabolic rate (RMR) measurements with the aim of improving this measurement as an energy availability monitoring tool. As part of her PhD, Megan also audited the literature for the representation of female versus male athletes in a variety of sports science topics. Megan joined Australian Catholic University as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2025. She continues to research the impact of diet on health and performance outcomes in athletes with a specific interest in energy availability and reducing gender gaps in sports nutrition research.
Kuikman MA, McKay AKA, Brown H, Townsend N, McCormick R, Morabito A,
Pichshev N, Slater G, and Burke LM. (2025). Barriers and enablers to measuring resting metabolic rate in the high-performance sporting system: A qualitative exploratory study. Journal of Sports Sciences. 43(3):280-288.
Kuikman MA, McKay AKA, McCormick R, Tee N, Vallance B, Ackerman KE, Harris R, Elliott-Sale KJ, Stellingwerff T, and Burke LM. (2025). The temporal effects of altitude and low energy availability manipulation on resting metabolic rate in female athletes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 57(1):123-133.
Kuikman MA, Smith E, McKay AKA, McCormick R, Ackerman KE, Harris R, Elliott-Sale KJ, Stellingwerff T, and Burke LM. (2025). Impact of acute dietary and exercise manipulation on next day RMR measurements and DXA body composition estimates. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 57(2):285-295.
Kuikman MA, McKay AKA, Harris R, Elliott-Sale KJ, Stellingwerff T, Smith, ES, McCormick R, Tee N, Minahan C, Skinner J, Ackerman KE and Burke LM. (2024). Effect of menstrual cycle phase and hormonal contraceptives on resting metabolic rate and body composition. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 34(4):207-217.
Kuikman MA, McKay AKA, Smith ES, Ackerman KE, Harris R, Elliott-Sale KJ, Stellingwerff T, and Burke LM. (2023). Female athlete representation and dietary control methods among studies assessing chronic carbohydrate approaches to support training. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 33(4):198-208.
Kuikman MA, Smith ES, McKay AKA, Ackerman KE, Harris R, Elliott-Sale KJ, Stellingwerff T and Burke LM. (2023). Fuelling the female athlete: Auditing her representation in studies of acute carbohydrate intake for exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 55(3):569-580.
Kuikman MA, Coates AM, and Burr JF. (2022). Markers of low energy availability in overreached athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine.
Kuikman MA, Mountjoy M, and Burr JF. (2021). Examining the relationship between exercise dependence, disordered eating, and low energy availability. Nutrients. 13(8):2601.
Kuikman MA, Mountjoy M, Stellingwerff T, and Burr JF. (2020). A review of non-pharmacological strategies in the treatment of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 31(3): 268-275.