PREVALENCE OF EATING DISORDERS IN BRAZILIAN ULTRAMARATHON RUNNERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH DIET, SLEEP PATTERNS AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS

• Grant number: 25/06508-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Maculano Esteves
• Grantee: Samara Máximo de Freitas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Eating disorders (ED) consist of a persistent eating behavior disorder that can result in inadequate consumption or impaired absorption of nutrients. Athletes, especially ultramarathon runners, are considered a risk group for developing these EDs, due to constant pressure and the demand for ideal form to reach maximum potential in sport. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the prevalence of EDs in Brazilian ultramarathoners, men and women, and their relationship with sleep patterns, food intake and gastrointestinal symptoms. This study will be divided into two stages, the first stage being online, focusing on the prevalence of EDs and their effects on sleep patterns in ultramarathoners (UM) from all over the country, through questionnaires made available via Google Forms; the second stage consists of the evaluation of UM participant in the La Mission Brasil ultramarathon: the volunteers, in addition to the online questionnaires and anamnesis on gastrointestinal symptoms, will undergo an objective sleep assessment by actigraphy, body composition assessment by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), food consumption assessment by photographic record and assessment of intestinal carbohydrate absorption by analysis of hydrogen concentration in an expired gas sample. The sleep assessment and food consumption assessment will occur before, during, and after the test; the anthropometric assessment will be performed before the test as a means of estimating the energy needs of each volunteer; and the expired gas analysis will be performed before and after the candidate has completed the test.