Post-competition recovery in natural physique athletes: body composition, metabolic adaptation, and refeeding responses.
Post-competition recovery in physique athletes involves significant physiological changes, and individualized refeeding strategies are essential for optimal recovery.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the kisspeptin (kp-10) corpusSummary and findings
This study measured physiological and psychological changes in 19 natural physique athletes during contest preparation and a 12-week recovery period. Key findings include a body weight decrease of 7.1 kg from baseline to pre-competition and subsequent rebounds in fat mass and fat-free mass post-competition. The study emphasizes the importance of individualized refeeding strategies post-competition.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Post-competition refeeding in physique athletes is poorly understood. We aimed to characterize physiological and psychological changes in natural physique athletes across contest preparation and a 12-week recovery period, and to explore the influence of post-competition refeeding strategies.<h4>Methods</h4>Nineteen natural physique athletes (8 male, 11 female) were assessed at baseline (~21 weeks pre-competition; T0), 1-2 weeks pre-final competition (Tpre), and 2, 6, and 12 weeks post-competition (T2, T3, T4). Measures included body composition (DXA), resting metabolic rate (RMR), thyroid hormones (FSH, FT3, FT4), absolute strength (IMTP peak force), and psychometric questionnaires (POMS, ASSQ, EDE-QS).<h4>Results</h4>Body weight decreased from T0 to Tpre (-7.1 kg [-8.3, -5.9]), driven primarily by FM loss (-5.8 [-6.8, -4.8]), with modest FFM loss (-1.7 [-2.6, -0.9]). Both FM and FFM rebounded predominantly within the first 6 weeks post-competition (Tpre→T3: +3.4 [2.3, 4.4] and +2.7 [1.8, 3.6], respectively). By T4, FM was not clearly different from T0 (-0.8 [-1.8, 0.3], while FFM exceeded T0 (+1.6 [0.7, 2.5]). RMR·FFM<sup>-1</sup> showed a small, uncertain reduction from T0 to Tpre (-0.9 kcal·kgFFM<sup>-1</sup>·day<sup>-1</sup> [-2.7, 0.9]), followed by increases from Tpre to T4 (+2.4 [0.7, 4.1]). Thyroid hormones decreased from T0 to Tpre (FT3: -1.4 [-1.8, -0.9], FT4: -1.4 [-2.6, -0.2]) and returned within reference ranges by T4. Strength was broadly maintained, while mood and sleep worsened from T0 to Tpre, and improved by T4. Eating-disorder symptom severity was highest during preparation and declined across the recovery period. In exploratory Bayesian modelling, larger post-competition increases in energy intake were associated with greater recovery of adjusted RMR.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Contest preparation was accompanied by fat loss, thyroid hormone suppression, and modest reductions in RMR, with recovery characterized by early increases in RMR and tissue restoration following competition. Larger post-competition increases in energy intake were associated with faster recovery of adjusted RMR, although FM regain occurred concurrently. Post-competition recovery should be treated as an active, structured phase, with refeeding individualized to athlete goals and psychological readiness and guided by multi-system monitoring rather than RMR alone. Athletes and coaches should plan ahead for this phase, with structured increases in food intake, realistic expectations around fat gain, and avoidance of unnecessarily prolonged restriction that may delay physiological recovery.
Background
This paper addresses the physiological and psychological effects of post-competition recovery in natural physique athletes, a topic that has not been extensively studied. Previous research has indicated that contest preparation can lead to significant changes in body composition and metabolic function. Understanding these changes and the role of refeeding strategies is crucial for optimizing recovery and performance in athletes.
Methods
The study involved 19 natural physique athletes (8 male, 11 female) assessed at baseline (~21 weeks pre-competition), 1-2 weeks pre-final competition, and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks post-competition. Measurements included body composition via DXA, resting metabolic rate, thyroid hormones, absolute strength, and psychometric questionnaires. The study design appears to be observational with multiple time points.
Results
Body weight decreased by 7.1 kg from T0 to Tpre, with fat mass loss of 5.8 kg and fat-free mass loss of 1.7 kg. Both fat mass and fat-free mass rebounded significantly within the first 6 weeks post-competition. Thyroid hormones FT3 and FT4 decreased by 1.4 units each from T0 to Tpre, returning to reference ranges by T4. Resting metabolic rate showed a small reduction from T0 to Tpre and increased from Tpre to T4.
Interpretation
The findings align with previous literature indicating that contest preparation leads to fat loss and metabolic adaptations. However, the effect sizes for changes in resting metabolic rate were small and uncertain, which may limit clinical significance. The small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up raise concerns about the generalizability of the results. Practitioners should consider these limitations when applying the findings to athlete management.
Key findings
- -7.1 kg body weight decrease from T0 to Tpre, n=19, 95% CI [-8.3, -5.9]
- -5.8 kg fat mass loss from T0 to Tpre, 95% CI [-6.8, -4.8]
- +3.4 kg fat mass rebound from Tpre to T3, 95% CI [2.3, 4.4]
- +2.7 kg fat-free mass rebound from Tpre to T3, 95% CI [1.8, 3.6]
- -1.4 FT3 decrease from T0 to Tpre, 95% CI [-1.8, -0.9]
- -1.4 FT4 decrease from T0 to Tpre, 95% CI [-2.6, -0.2]
Limitations
- small n=19 athletes
- short follow-up of 12 weeks
- observational design limits causal inference
- no long-term data beyond 12 weeks