Lower Fat Intake = Higher Rate of Injury (*study)

We’ve been preaching against the high-carb, low-fat dogma in the endurance world for what seems like forever now. On the basis of how the body fuels itself for athletic events, none of the pro- low – fat arguments have ever made sense to us. But forgetting about energy systems for a minute and substrate utilization (especially in advanced athletes), low fat is highly correlated with an increased incidence of injury in runners (the study below looked at females); not only that, but low fat diets are actually the best dietary predictor for future injuries. Check it out:

Fat intake and injury in female runners

Abstract

Background: Our purpose was to determine the relationship between energy intake, energy

availability, dietary fat and lower extremity injury in adult female runners. We hypothesized that

runners who develop overuse running-related injuries have lower energy intakes, lower energy

availability and lower fat intake compared to non-injured runners.

Methods: Eighty-six female subjects, running a minimum of 20 miles/week, completed a food

frequency questionnaire and informed us about injury incidence over the next year.

Results: Injured runners had significantly lower intakes of total fat (63 ± 20 vs. 80 ± 50 g/d) and

percentage of kilocalories from fat (27 ± 5 vs. 30 ± 8 %) compared with non-injured runners. A

logistic regression analysis found that fat intake was the best dietary predictor, correctly identifying

64% of future injuries. Lower energy intake and lower energy availability approached, but did not

reach, a significant association with overuse injury in this study.

Conclusion: Fat intake is likely associated with injury risk in female runners. By documenting these

associations, better strategies can be developed to reduce running injuries in women.