The novel findings of the present study demonstrate that a short-term dietary intervention (emphasising increased protein availability) and ‘fasted ‘aerobic exercise reduced both absolute and relative body fat, maintained lean muscle mass, increased RMR and also improved both aerobic capacity and muscle strength. Importantly, this dietary approach was specific to each individual’s RMR and did not rely on acute/ chronic dehydration and/or prolonged periods of fasting. As such, the approach of increased food frequency and change in macronutrient composition permitted these jockeys to achieve their riding weight without the requirement to rely on the aforementioned techniques, the culmination of which are known to induce adverse effects on physical and mental health parameters in this population,