During multi-day competitions, athletes demonstrated energy expenditure 6-7 times higher than their basal level, reaching 7-8 thousand calories per day. However, during prolonged exertion, such as over 30 and 52 weeks, their average energy expenditure stabilized at approximately 2.4 times the basal metabolic rate.
This means that while athletes can temporarily exceed the so-called "metabolic ceiling," maintaining such a level in the long term is impossible without negative consequences for the body. Scientists emphasize that under excessive loads, the body begins to "conserve" energy by slowing down other processes and limiting activity to balance the energy deficit.
The study's results confirm the theory that energy expenditure limits depend on the duration of the load. Significantly higher levels can be achieved in short bursts, but maintaining that level consistently proves to be impossible.
This discovery is significant for both the sports community and for a deeper understanding of energy processes in the human body.
The research is published in the journal Cell.
