Thomas Birkedal Stenqvist

Associate Professor

Department of Sport Science and Physical Education

Email: thomas.b.stenqvist@uia.no
Phone: +47 38142416
Mobile phone: +4745290621

Office I3049 (Universitetsveien 25, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway)

Research groups

ROPE: Research in Outdoor and Physical Education

Areas of responsibility

Thomas Birkedal Stenqvist serves as an associate professor in friluftsliv (outdoor eduation) at the University of Agder (UiA). Stenqvist has a Nordic friluftsliv education from the University of Southern Denmark (2011), as well as pedagogical education from the University of South-East Norway in physical education and friluftsliv (2013). Stenqvist also has a master's degree (2016) and a Ph.D. (2021) in sports science from UiA.

Since 2021, Stenqvist has served as the course responsible for the faculty's international outdoor education program (Outdoor Education) and is a specialist in sea kayaking and outdoor activities in winter.

Stenqvist has extensive experience from the military in Denmark, has worked since 2006 with outdoor education at a folk university in Denmark, through his own company, and since 2015 at UiA.

Research

Research topics in outdoor education:

Decision-making and risk assessment

Situational awareness

Decision-making processes

Formal and informal competence in outdoor education

Traditional outdoor activities

Energy balance during demanding expeditions type outdoor education

Other research areas:

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (REDs)

Academic interests

Friluftsliv

Norwegian Polar historie

Outdoor Education

Selected publications

Østrem, K. (2021). Nærmiljøfriluftsliv i skolen.
Lundy, Bronwen; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Burke, Louise M.; Garthe, Ina; Slater, Gary; Ritz, Christian; Melin, Anna Katarina (2022). Screening for Low Energy Availability in Male Athletes: Attempted Validation of LEAM-Q. Nutrients. ISSN: 2072-6643. doi:10.3390/nu14091873.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Melin, Anna Katarina; Garthe, Ina; Slater, Gary; Paulsen, Gøran; Iraki, Juma; Areta, José Lisandro; Torstveit, Monica Klungland (2021). Prevalence of Surrogate Markers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Male Norwegian Olympic-Level Athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. ISSN: 1526-484X. 31 (6). s 497 - 506. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0368.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Faber, Jens; Melin, Anna Katarina (2020). Impact of a 4-Week Intensified Endurance Training Intervention on Markers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Performance Among Well-Trained Male Cyclists. Frontiers in Endocrinology. ISSN: 1664-2392. 11doi:10.3389/fendo.2020.512365.
Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Fahrenholtz, Ida Lysdahl; Lichtenstein, Mia Beck; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Melin, Anna Katarina (2019). Exercise dependence, eating disorder symptoms and biomarkers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S) among male endurance athletes. BMJ Open sport & exercise medicine. ISSN: 2055-7647. 5 (1). doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000439.
Hanstock, Helen; Govus, Andrew; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Melin, Anna Katarina; Sylta, Øystein; Torstveit, Monica Klungland (2019). Influence of Immune and Nutritional Biomarkers on Illness Risk During Interval Training. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (IJSPP). ISSN: 1555-0265. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2018-0527.
Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Fahrenholtz, Ida Lysdahl; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Sylta, Øystein; Melin, Anna (2018). Within-day Energy Deficiency and Metabolic Perturbation in Male Endurance Athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. ISSN: 1526-484X. 28 (4). s 419 - 427. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0337.

General outreach

Bere, E.T. & Stenqvist, T. B. (2020). How traditional Norwegian outdoor activities are changing; a 10-year follow-up. At ECSS Conference 2020, 1st-3rd of July, Sevilla, Spain Øvrevik, G. &

Stenqvist, T. B. (2020). Motivational factors for participating in a Norwegian Outdoor education program. At ECSS Conference 2020, 1st-3rd of July, Sevilla, Spain

Stenqvist, T. B, Melin, A.K, Garthe, I, Slater, G, Paulsen, G, & Torstveit, M.K. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport among male Norwegian world-class athletes. At ECSS Conference 2020, 1st-3rd of July, Sevilla, Spain

Byrkjedal, P.T., Stenqvist, T.B., Torstveit, M. K., Bergvik, K., Spencer, M. No effect of a three-week post-season transition period on markers of RED-S in highly trained male cyclists. At ECSS Conference 2020, 1st-3rd of July, Sevilla, Spain

Torstveit, M. K., Stenqvist, T.B., & Melin, A. K. (2019). Effects Of An Intensified Training Period On Resting Metabolic Rate, Energy Availability, Blood-biomarkers And Performance. At ACSM conference 2019, 28th-1st of June, Orlando, Florida, USA

Stenqvist, T. B., Melin, A., Sylta, Ø., Hjelmbrekke, I., Borgen, S., Torstveit, M. K. (2016). Prevalence of low resting metabolic rate and associated health consequences among well-trained male Norwegian endurance athletes. At ECSS Conference 2016, 6th-9th of July, Vienna, Austria

Melin, A.K., Fahrenholtz, I.L., Lichtenstein, M.B., Stenqvist, T.B., Torstveit, M.K., (2019). Exercise dependence, eating disorder symptoms and biomarkers of relative energy deficiency among male endurance athletes. In ACSM conference 2019, 28th of May-1st of June, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A

Hanstock, H., Govus, A., Stenqvist, T. B., Melin, A. K., Sylta, Ø., & Torstveit, M. K. (2018). Influence of interval duration on immunological responses to 4-weeks’ high-intensity interval training. In BASES Conference 2018, 27-28 November, Harrogate, UK (Vol. 36, pp. 1-94)

Hanstock, H. G., Govus, A., Stenqvist, T. B., Melin, A., Sylta, Ø., & Torstveit, M. K. (2018). Evaluation of physiological and nutritional risk factors for upper respiratory illness using a zero-inflated negative binomial model. In BASES Conference 2018, 27-28 November 2018, Harrogate, UK (Vol. 36, pp. 1-94)

Stenqvist, T.B. (2019). Is Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S) just a female problem? How about males? Sunn idrett conference 2019, 14th of May, Ullevål UBC, Oslo

Stenqvist, T.B. (2017). Methodological challenges in assessing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports. Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee presentation 2017, 8th of March, Sognsvann, Oslo

Stenqvist, T. B. (2016). Prevalence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport among well-trained male Norwegian cyclists and long-distance runners. Master's thesis, University of Agder.

Tuition

Stenqvist has over 15 years of experience in outdoor education in both folk high school, high-schools, universities, and in the private sector. He is a specialist in paddling, winter mountains, orienteering and navigation, cycling, and more.

Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Bere, Elling Tufte (2024). How traditional Norwegian outdoor activities are changing; a 10-year follow up in relation to sociodemographic factors. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. ISSN 2624-9367. 6. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1355776. Full text in Research Archive
Østrem, Ketil & Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal (2024). Å ta gode og trygge beslutninger i friluftsliv. In Røynesdal, Øystein & Thorjussen, Ingfrid M. (Ed.), Kroppsøving i praksis: læreplanbegreper, klasseledelse og undervisningsmetode. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215063744. p. 125–141.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Melin, Anna Katarina & Torstveit, Monica Klungland (2023). Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) Indicators in Male Adolescent Endurance Athletes: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study. Nutrients. ISSN 2072-6643. 15(24). doi: 10.3390/nu15245086. Full text in Research Archive
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Øvrevik, Geir (2023). Energy balance during outdoor education winter training: a pilot study. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. ISSN 1472-9679. doi: 10.1080/14729679.2023.2196639. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Learning in the mountains during winter prepares upcoming guides for tough environments by placing demands on their energy intake and enabling them to cope with a complex environment. However, few studies have explored energy intake and expenditure in outdoor education. Thus, energy intake during a 24-hour winter mountain course was investigated in a Norwegian educational context, where students must absorb large volumes of information in a challenging environment. Twenty university students (11 men, 9 women) underwent body composition, weighed energy intake, and accelerometry-based energy expenditure measurements. Overall, the students had an energy deficit of>2,300 kilo-calories/day, corresponding to an energy balance of 62% for men and 54% for women (p > 0.05), despite having received lectures on energy requirements in advance. This sustained stress context combined with challenging environmental conditions and insufficient energy intake can predispose students to early exhaustion, injury risk, and potentially reduced information processing that may limit learning
Lundy, Bronwen; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Burke, Louise M.; Garthe, Ina & Slater, Gary [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Screening for Low Energy Availability in Male Athletes: Attempted Validation of LEAM-Q. Nutrients. ISSN 2072-6643. 14(9). doi: 10.3390/nu14091873. Full text in Research Archive
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Melin, Anna Katarina; Garthe, Ina; Slater, Gary; Paulsen, Gøran & Iraki, Juma [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Prevalence of Surrogate Markers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Male Norwegian Olympic-Level Athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. ISSN 1526-484X. 31(6), p. 497–506. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0368. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The syndrome of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) includes wide-ranging effects on physiological and psychological functioning, performance, and general health. However, RED-S is understudied among male athletes at the highest performance levels. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate surrogate RED-S markers prevalence in Norwegian male Olympic-level athletes. Athletes (n = 44) aged 24.7 ± 3.8 years, body mass 81.3 ± 15.9 kg, body fat 13.7% ± 5.8%, and training volume 76.1 ± 22.9 hr/month were included. Assessed parameters included resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition, and bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and venous blood variables (testosterone, free triiodothyronine, cortisol, and lipids). Seven athletes (16%) grouped by the presence of low RMR (RMRratio < 0.90) (0.81 ± 0.07 vs. 1.04 ± 0.09, p < .001, effect size 2.6), also showed lower testosterone (12.9 ± 5.3 vs. 19.0 ± 5.3 nmol/L, p = .020) than in normal RMR group. In low RMRratio individuals, prevalence of other RED-S markers (—subclinical—low testosterone, low free triiodothyronine, high cortisol, and elevated low-density lipoprotein) was (N/number of markers): 2/0, 2/1, 2/2, 1/3. Low bone mineral density (z-score < −1) was found in 16% of the athletes, all with normal RMR. Subclinical low testosterone and free triiodothyronine levels were found in nine (25%) and two (5%) athletes, respectively. Subclinical high cortisol was found in 23% of athletes while 34% had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Seven of 12 athletes with two or more RED-S markers had normal RMR. In conclusion, this study found that multiple RED-S markers also exist in male Olympic-level athletes. This highlights the importance of regular screening of male elite athletes, to ensure early detection and treatment of RED-S.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Faber, Jens & Melin, Anna Katarina (2020). Impact of a 4-Week Intensified Endurance Training Intervention on Markers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and Performance Among Well-Trained Male Cyclists. Frontiers in Endocrinology. ISSN 1664-2392. 11. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.512365. Full text in Research Archive
Hanstock, Helen; Govus, Andrew; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Melin, Anna Katarina; Sylta, Øystein & Torstveit, Monica Klungland (2019). Influence of Immune and Nutritional Biomarkers on Illness Risk During Interval Training. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (IJSPP). ISSN 1555-0265. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2018-0527.
Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Fahrenholtz, Ida Lysdahl; Lichtenstein, Mia Beck; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Melin, Anna Katarina (2019). Exercise dependence, eating disorder symptoms and biomarkers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S) among male endurance athletes. BMJ Open sport & exercise medicine. ISSN 2055-7647. 5(1). doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000439. Full text in Research Archive
Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Fahrenholtz, Ida Lysdahl; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Sylta, Øystein & Melin, Anna (2018). Within-day Energy Deficiency and Metabolic Perturbation in Male Endurance Athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. ISSN 1526-484X. 28(4), p. 419–427. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0337. Show summary
Endurance athletes are at increased risk of relative energy deficiency associated with metabolic perturbation and impaired health. We aimed to estimate and compare within-day energy balance in male athletes with suppressed and normal resting metabolic rate (RMR) and explore whether within-day energy deficiency is associated with endocrine markers of energy deficiency. A total of 31 male cyclists, triathletes, and long-distance runners recruited from regional competitive sports clubs were included. The protocol comprised measurements of RMR by ventilated hood and energy intake and energy expenditure to predict RMRratio (measured RMR/predicted RMR), energy availability, 24-hr energy balance and within-day energy balance in 1-hr intervals, assessment of body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood plasma analysis. Subjects were categorized as having suppressed (RMRratio 0.90, n = 11) RMR. Despite there being no observed differences in 24-hr energy balance or energy availability between the groups, subjects with suppressed RMR spent more time in an energy deficit exceeding 400 kcal (20.9 [18.8-21.8] hr vs. 10.8 [2.5-16.4], p = .023) and had larger single-hour energy deficits compared with subjects with normal RMR (3,265 ± 1,963 kcal vs. -1,340 ± 2,439, p = .023). Larger single-hour energy deficits were associated with higher cortisol levels (r = -.499, p = .004) and a lower testosterone:cortisol ratio (r = .431, p = .015), but no associations with triiodothyronine or fasting blood glucose were observed. In conclusion, within-day energy deficiency was associated with suppressed RMR and catabolic markers in male endurance athletes.

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Østrem, Ketil & Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal (2023). Trygg læring i friluftslivet . Fædrelandsvennen. ISSN 0805-3790.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal (2022). Vil du prestere bedre? .
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal (2022). Vil du prestere bedre? lokalavisen fedrelandsvennen.
Laxdal, Aron Gauti; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Aasland, Erik (2022). Utfordringer og muligheter knyttet til tilpasset undervisning i friluftsliv: En kvalitativ case-studie.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Atkinson, Leonard Henry (2021). Kajakkpadling er enklere enn du tror . Adresseavisen. ISSN 0805-3804.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Atkinson, Leonard Henry (2021). Kajakkpadling er enklere enn du tror . Folkebladet.no.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Atkinson, Leonard Henry (2021). Kajakkpadling er enklere enn du tror. Fædrelandsvennen. ISSN 0805-3790.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Øvrevik, Geir (2021). Skole ved kysten. In Østrem, Ketil (Eds.), Nærmiljøfriluftsliv i skolen. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202675813.
Øvrevik, Geir & Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal (2021). Skole ved kysten. In Østrem, Ketil (Eds.), Nærmiljøfriluftsliv i skolen. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202675813.
Coward, Espen; Spencer, Matthew & Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal (2020). TRAINING METHODS AND INTENSITY DISTRIBUTION OF YOUNG ELITE ENDURANCE ATHLETES: A TWO-YEAR LONGITUDI- NAL STUDY.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Melin, Anna Katarina; Garthe, Ina; Slater, Gary; Paulsen, Gøran & Torstveit, Monica Klungland (2020). RELATIVE ENERGY DEFICIENCY IN SPORT AMONG MALE NORWEGIAN WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES.
Byrkjedal, Per Thomas; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Bergsvik, Kristina & Spencer, Matthew (2020). No effect of a three-week post-season transition period on markers of RED-S in highly-trained male cyclists.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Bere, Elling Tufte (2020). How traditional Norwegian outdoor activities are changing; a 10 year follow up. ECSS Conference Proceedings. ISSN 2188-1154.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Øvrevik, Geir (2020). Motivational factors for participating in a Norwegian Outdoor education program. ECSS Conference Proceedings. ISSN 2188-1154.
Melin, Anna Katarina; Fahrenholtz, Ida Lysdahl; Lichtenstein, Mia Beck; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Torstveit, Monica Klungland (2019). Exercise dependence, eating disorder symptoms and biomarkers of relative energy deficiency among male endurance athletes .
Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal & Melin, Anna Katarina (2019). Effects Of An Intensified Training Period On Resting Metabolic Rate, Energy Availability, Blood-biomarkers And Performance.
Stenqvist, Thomas Birkedal (2021). Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) among Norwegian male athletes. Energy availability, health, and performance among male athletes at different age and performance levels. University of Agder. ISSN 978-82-8427-053-1. Full text in Research Archive

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Published Apr. 16, 2024 11:09 AM