Publications & Articles

Poor mental health and low energy availability may reduce chances to win Olympic medals

What are the findings? 

• Low energy availability in female athletes was highly associated with illness. Energy availability should be monitored via indirect or direct means.
• Most illnesses last 2–7 days; however, high variability in these estimates is reported. Individualised care is recommended.
• There was a high prevalence of sleep disturbances, poor mental health symptoms and illness (primarily related to the upper respiratory tract) in Olympic athletes.

How might it impact on clinical practice in the future?

• Illness prevention programme should include evaluation of the effect of multifactorial preventive measures. 
• Good mental health, dispositional resilience and sleep quality appear to be leading factors involved in remaining healthy and should form part of a salutogenicprogramme.
• Illness prevention is required in the months prior to the Olympic Games.

Drew M, Vlahovich N, Hughes D, Appaneal R, Burke LM, Lundy B, Rogers M, Toomey M, Watts D, Lovell G, Praet S, Halson SL, Colbey C, Manzanero S, Welvaert M, West NP, Pyne DB, Waddington G.

Br J Sports Med Published Online First on October 22, 2017. doi:10.1136/ bjsports-2017-098208