ABSTRACT
Energy availability (EA) is defined as the remaining energy to support the daily physiological demands after exercise energy expenditure has been subtracted. Values above ∼190 kJ per kg fat-free mass (FFM) (45 kcal/kgFFM/day) are considered adequate for the able-bodied population, while values below ∼125 kJ per kg fat-free mass (30 kcal/kgFFM/day) characterise a situation of low energy availability (LEA), leading to short- and long-term consequences such as hormonal, metabolic and functional alterations, and development of the female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sports. There is a gap in the knowledge about EA in Para athletes since the literature focuses on able-bodied athletes, especially female athletes, and because of the complexity in determining their components. For this reason, this chapter seeks to review the concept of energy availability and its implications for the Para athlete population.
