Understanding Low Energy Availability (LEA) in Male Athletes: Risks, Indicators, and Prevention
Consider this scenario: a male endurance athlete, performing at his peak and pushing his limits daily, starts to experience unexplained fatigue, reduced performance, and constant irritability. What’s going on? The answer might be Low Energy Availability (LEA)—a condition often overlooked yet deeply impactful in the world of sports.
This article examines LEA, its significant implications on male athletes’ health and performance, and actionable strategies to prevent it. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or healthcare professional, understanding LEA is a critical step toward sustaining both peak performance and overall well-being.
What is Low Energy Availability (LEA)?
LEA occurs when an athlete’s energy intake falls short of what’s required to fuel their exercise and sustain normal physiological functions. Put simply, it’s a mismatch between calories consumed and calories burned, leaving insufficient energy for vital processes like hormone production, muscle recovery, and mental well-being.
For male athletes engaged in energy-intensive sports like running, cycling, or rowing, LEA is a real and pressing risk. Research identifies a threshold of 20–25 kcal per kilogram of fat-free mass (FFM) per day as critical, below which physiological disruptions may arise.
Key takeaway: LEA is ultimately about balance. Without enough energy, the body sacrifices essential functions to cope.
The Real Risks of LEA
LEA may begin subtly, and then tends to snowball into severe consequences if left unaddressed. Here are some of the primary symptoms associated with LEA in male athletes:
1. Hormonal Disruption
LEA is directly linked to reductions in testosterone levels, causing conditions like hypogonadism. This hormonal imbalance leads to fatigue, diminished muscle recovery, and reduced libido.
2. Bone Health Decline
Chronic LEA often results in decreased bone density, increasing the risk of fractures and long-term osteoporosis.
3. Mental and Emotional Strain
We often focus on the physiological consequences, and arguably overlook the psychological ones. It’s important to note that LEA can worsen irritability, depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. Social pressures related to body image and the comparison cycle often heighten this stress.
4. Performance Impairments
LEA significantly affects athletic performance, including reduced endurance, impaired strength gains, and heightened injury risk. A lack of sufficient muscle glycogen (#TEAMCARBS) leads to decreased energy during competition. Impaired recovery also leaves muscles unprepared for subsequent workouts, meaning your gains are limited despite continued hard work.
Early Indicators and Warning Signs
Identifying LEA early is key to preventing long-term consequences. Coaches and sports professionals should watch for the following indicators:
Fatigue: Persistent fatigue that’s not clearly linked to training volume or intensity.
Reduced Testosterone Levels: This can often be identified through bloodwork.
Mood Swings and Irritability: Emotional instability may signal deficiencies in energy availability.
Unexplained Performance Decline: Difficulty maintaining usual training or competition results.
Changes in Body Composition: Sudden weight loss or reduced muscle mass may indicate an energy imbalance.
Building profiles to track athletes’ testosterone levels or monitoring fatigue patterns can be instrumental in early detection. Sports med physicians can help with this.
The Role of Social Pressures in LEA
Today’s culture of “ideal” athletic physiques, exacerbated by social media, contributes heavily to LEA. Male athletes often face mounting pressure to maintain a lean body composition, believing it enhances performance. This can lead to restricted eating, disordered eating behaviors, and ultimately, chronic LEA.
Social Media’s Double-Edged Sword
Platforms like Instagram often promote unattainable standards of leanness and muscularity, encouraging athletes to compare their physiques with curated images.
Body shaming, Instagram posts mocking others at the gym, and cyberbullying exacerbate dissatisfaction and push athletes toward unhealthy behaviors.
By engaging in conversations about body image and challenging myths regarding “ideal” athletic physiques, coaches and sports professionals can slowly change our sports culture and protect athletes from unnecessary harm.
Strategies to Prevent LEA
Prevention is ALWAYS better than cure when it comes to LEA. Here’s a step-by-step guide for coaches, healthcare professionals, and athletes themselves to mitigate the risks of LEA:
1. Optimize Energy Balance
Make sure you’re meeting your caloric needs relative to your training intensity.
Prioritize rest and recovery! This part is often neglected.
Use the 20–25 kcal/kg FFM/day threshold as a guideline but adjust for individual variation.
2. Prioritize Nutrition
Work with sports dietitians to match energy intake to training phases (e.g., higher intake during intense training periods and tapering for lighter phases). Emphasis on dietitian. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, but dietitians have the appropriate credentials. Bonus points for a dietitian certified in sports. Look for the CSSD behind the name.
Flexible eating plans that focus on nutrient-dense foods can improve both mental and physical health.
3. Work with Professionals Who Get It
Find coaches and healthcare providers who know how to identify signs of disordered eating and LEA.
Attend workshops that challenge rigid body ideals and promote healthy eating habits.
4. Get Regular Health Screenings
Get bloodwork done to get a baseline for biomarkers like testosterone. Assess body composition regularly.
Complete questionnaires about energy levels, mood, and dietary habits to stay on top of changes.
5. Create a Supportive Environment
Engage in open conversations with others about body image and nutrition without stigma.
Build a multidisciplinary team—including a sports dietitian, psychologist, and physician—to handle cases of LEA proactively.
A Call to Action for Coaches and Athletes
Effective prevention and management of LEA require a team effort. Coaches, healthcare providers, and athletes must collaborate to prioritize energy availability and challenge cultural pressures that glorify extremes.
If you suspect that you or an athlete you work with may be at risk of LEA, talk to them and encourage them to take action. Consulting with a sports dietitian, physician, or a sports therapist can make a huge difference in identifying underlying issues and building a plan to overcome them.
Start now—schedule a free consult today with one of our sports therapists to stay on top of both performance and well-being. We currently have performance coaching options nationwide, with mental health therapy available for athletes in Minnesota.
References
Hänisch, T., Nieß, A. M., & Carlsohn, A. (2025). Effects of low energy availability on performance in male athletes: A scoping review. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 28(2), 110–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.10.008
Lee, B. (2024). Low Energy Availability (LEA) in male athletes: A review of the literature. The Sport Journal. https://thesportjournal.org/article/low-energy-availability-lea-in-male-athletes-a-review-of-the-literature/
Sim, A., Tan, H. Q., Ali, Y., & Burns, S. F. (2024). Original investigation: manipulating energy availability in male endurance runners: a randomised controlled trial. Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme, 49(9), 1163–1174. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2024-0037
Wasserfurth, P., Palmowski, J., Hahn, A. et al. (2020). Reasons for and Consequences of Low Energy Availability in Female and Male Athletes: Social Environment, Adaptations, and Prevention. Sports Med - Open 6, 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00275-6
