Fuel, Hormones and the Gut: LJMU X Giant Liverpool seminar

Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are one of the most common challenges faced by endurance athletes. Symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps, bloating, and diarrhoea frequently occur during training and competition and are one of the leading reasons athletes are forced to slow down, underperform, or withdraw from events altogether. For many athletes, these symptoms can prevent them from reaching their full performance potential.

Despite how common these issues are, we still have a limited understanding of why GI symptoms occur, particularly in female athletes. Research suggests that the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms may be even higher in females, potentially due to differences in physiology and hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle. However, much of the existing research in this area has focused on male athletes, leaving important gaps in our knowledge.

This seminar will explore the role of the gastrointestinal system in endurance performance and why it is often a key limiting factor for athletes. The talk will discuss why GI symptoms occur during exercise, why female athletes may experience them more frequently, and why understanding the “female athlete gut” is important for improving both athlete health and performance

Dr Kelsie Johnson is a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology and Nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University. Her research focuses on female athlete health, particularly the interaction between the menstrual cycle, gastrointestinal function, and exercise. Her work aims to improve our understanding of GI symptoms in female athletes and how these may influence performance and training.

Alongside her academic work, Kelsie is the founder of NxP Coaching, where she works with female hybrid and endurance athletes to integrate evidence-based training and nutrition strategies into real-world performance. Through this work she translates research into practical support that helps athletes train effectively, fuel appropriately, and perform at their best.

Doors open 18.00 with the seminar starting at 18.30.

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