Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29910436›Full record

ArticleSports (Basel, Switzerland)2017

Do Bodybuilders Use Evidence-Based Nutrition Strategies to Manipulate Physique?

Lachlan Mitchell, Daniel Hackett, Janelle Gifford, Frederico Estermann, Helen O'Connor

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
28citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

28 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Nutritional and Non-Nutritional Strategies in Bodybuilding: Impact on Kidney Function.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Peak week recommendations for bodybuilders: an evidence based approach.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2021
    Review
  17. Review
  18. Physical health and symptoms of relative energy deficiency in female fitness athletes.Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports · 2020
    Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Lachlan MitchellDiscipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 75 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141, Australia. lachlan.mitchell@sydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0003-1316-3688
Daniel HackettDiscipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 75 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141, Australia. daniel.hackett@sydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-2504-3942
Janelle GiffordDiscipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 75 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141, Australia. janelle.gifford@sydney.edu.au.
Frederico EstermannDiscipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 75 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141, Australia. fest5296@uni.sydney.edu.au.
Helen O'ConnorDiscipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 75 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141, Australia. helen.oconnor@sydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-2504-3942

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Competitive bodybuilders undergo strict dietary and training practices to achieve an extremely lean and muscular physique. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe different dietary strategies used by bodybuilders, their rationale, and the sources of information from which these strategies are gathered. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven experienced (10.4 ± 3.4 years bodybuilding experience), male, natural bodybuilders. Participants were asked about training, dietary and supplement practices, and information resources for bodybuilding strategies. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. During the off-season, energy intake was higher and less restricted than during the in-season to aid in muscle hypertrophy. There was a focus on high protein intake with adequate carbohydrate to permit high training loads. To create an energy deficit and loss of fat mass, energy intake was gradually and progressively reduced during the in-season via a reduction in carbohydrate and fat intake. The rationale for weekly higher carbohydrate refeed days was to offset declines in metabolic rate and fatigue, while in the final "peak week" before competition, the reasoning for fluid and sodium manipulation and carbohydrate loading was to enhance the appearance of leanness and vascularity. Other bodybuilders, coaches and the internet were significant sources of information. Despite the common perception of extreme, non-evidence-based regimens, these bodybuilders reported predominantly using strategies which are recognized as evidence-based, developed over many years of experience. Additionally, novel strategies such as weekly refeed days to enhance fat loss, and sodium and fluid manipulation, warrant further investigation to evaluate their efficacy and safety.

Indexed as

peak weekproteinrefeed daysupplement

Identifiers

PMID29910436
PMCPMC5969027

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.