Well-trained endurance athletes wanted for an energy availability study (AGILITY study)

What is the project about?

This research project aims to investigate how the body responds to short-term low energy availability (LEA). LEA describes an energy mismatch between an individual’s dietary energy intake and the energy cost of their commitments for training and competition. LEA occurs in a variety of different scenarios, but with a shared outcome of depriving other parts of the body of the fuel needed to be healthy and function optimally. When this situation crosses over from mild (short term) to problematic (long-term or severe), it is associated with a range of health problems and poor performance, recognised under the broad umbrella of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (REDs). The prevention and treatment of REDs requires a better understanding of the complex nature of this crossover.

This study aims to determine:

• which body systems are most affected by LEA
• what role, if any, the source of the energy mismatch (reduced dietary intake or increased exercise energy expenditure) plays in the body’s response
• if the response differs between males and females. Our results will help athletes, coaches and sport practitioners make informed choices to reduce the risk of REDs, as well as to effectively unravel situations in which it has occurred.

This study requires seven in-person visits to our Fitzroy laboratory, with three of these visits requiring you to stay overnight (~50 hours).

All participants will receive:

• Valuable health and performance information including your VO₂max, body composition, bone mineral density, metabolic rate and iron status
• Reimbursement for your time

To be eligible for this study you must:

• Be aged 18-45 years old
• A well-trained runner, triathlete or racewalker
• Currently running or walking at least ~45km/week
• Not using hormonal contraceptives

To read the Participant Information Letter and find out if you are eligible, please complete the screening questionnaire here.

For more information, please contact Louise or Margot at Agility@acu.edu.au

This study has been approved by the ACU Human Research Ethics Committee (2025-4078HC).