TY - JOUR
T1 - Intermittent Dieting
T2 - Theoretical Considerations for the Athlete
AU - Peos, Jackson James
AU - Norton, Layne Eiseman
AU - Helms, Eric Russell
AU - Galpin, Andrew Jacob
AU - Fournier, Paul
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - Athletes utilise numerous strategies to reduce body weight or body fat prior to competition. The traditional approach requires continuous energy restriction (CER) for the entire weight loss phase (typically days to weeks). However, there is some suggestion that intermittent energy restriction (IER), which involves alternating periods of energy restriction with periods of greater energy intake (referred to as 'refeeds' or 'diet breaks') may result in superior weight loss outcomes than CER. This may be due to refeed periods causing transitory restoration of energy balance. Some studies indicate that intermittent periods of energy balance during energy restriction attenuate some of the adaptive responses that resist the continuation of weight and fat loss. While IER-like CER-is known to effectively reduce body fat in non-athletes, evidence for effectiveness of IER in athletic populations is lacking. This review provides theoretical considerations for successful body composition adjustment using IER, with discussion of how the limited existing evidence can be cautiously applied in athlete practice.
AB - Athletes utilise numerous strategies to reduce body weight or body fat prior to competition. The traditional approach requires continuous energy restriction (CER) for the entire weight loss phase (typically days to weeks). However, there is some suggestion that intermittent energy restriction (IER), which involves alternating periods of energy restriction with periods of greater energy intake (referred to as 'refeeds' or 'diet breaks') may result in superior weight loss outcomes than CER. This may be due to refeed periods causing transitory restoration of energy balance. Some studies indicate that intermittent periods of energy balance during energy restriction attenuate some of the adaptive responses that resist the continuation of weight and fat loss. While IER-like CER-is known to effectively reduce body fat in non-athletes, evidence for effectiveness of IER in athletic populations is lacking. This review provides theoretical considerations for successful body composition adjustment using IER, with discussion of how the limited existing evidence can be cautiously applied in athlete practice.
KW - intermittent energy restriction
KW - diet-reducing
KW - weight loss
KW - caloric restriction
KW - adaptive thermogenesis
KW - composition-body
KW - body weight maintenance
KW - LEAN BODY-MASS
KW - FAT-FREE MASS
KW - RESTING METABOLIC-RATE
KW - WEIGHT-REDUCED INDIVIDUALS
KW - ADIPOSE-TISSUE CELLULARITY
KW - MUSCLE PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS
KW - ENERGY-EXPENDITURE
KW - CALORIC RESTRICTION
KW - DIETARY-FAT
KW - ADAPTIVE THERMOGENESIS
U2 - 10.3390/sports7010022
DO - 10.3390/sports7010022
M3 - Review article
C2 - 30654501
VL - 7
JO - Sports
JF - Sports
SN - 2075-4663
IS - 1
M1 - 22
ER -