Taking the position that physical activity, athletic performance and recovery from exercise are enhanced by optimal nutrition, the paper recommends appropriate selection of food and fluids, timing of intake and careful supplement choices. The paper makes general recommendations for normally active persons, male endurance athletes, and men and women athletes involved in weight-class sports.
Body composition is often part of the perception of optimal exercise performance.
The joint position stand notes that some sports dictate that athletes make changes in body weight and composition that may not be optimal for the athlete. The paper warns against dropping below five percent body fat for males and 12 per cent for female athletes. A description of body composition assessment techniques is accompanied by the error rates of each, leading to the advice that individual athletes should aim for a range rather than a specific percentage. The paper states that although carbohydrates, proteins and fats all contribute to the energy burned during athletic performance, data are not available to suggest that an athlete needs a diet substantially different from that recommended for the general population. Specific guidelines for individual energy components should be based on body size, weight, body composition, the sport and gender of the athlete.