Fat in the Athlete's Diet

Fat is an important energy substrate for athletes. It provides 9 kilocalories of energy per gram (kcal/g). It is body fuel for low-intensity, longer-duration exercise. About half of the total energy expenditure is derived from free fatty acid metabolism in moderate-intensity, long-duration exercise greater than 1 hour in length. Fat may contribute as much as 75% of the energy demand during prolonged aerobic work in the endurance-trained athlete. Fat is also essential for the absorption of certain vitamins. The most important role of dietary fat is ...