Nutritional recommended guidelines in elite level female artistic and rhythmic Gymnastics
Abstract
Τhe purpose of this review was to highlight how pre-adolescent and adolescent females of the elite level of artistic and rhythmic gymnastics are of the high-risk group of athletes which have been found to suffer from severe deficiency of essential nutrients, resulting in the development of female athlete triad components. The increased needs of accelerated growth, coupled with the need to maintain reduced body weight and the intense long-term daily training requirements (without adequate rehabilitation), particularly exposes young athletes of artistic and rhythmic gymnastics to numerous issues such as , developmental disorders, long-term nutritional deficiencies, emotional problems (more specifically low self-esteem, body displeasure, daily multiple weights, obsession in body aesthetics and appearance), hormonal disorders (amenorrhea), premature fatigue, osteopenia, and a particularly increased risk of injuries. Having reviewed the relevant research literature, it has been found that the overwhelming majority of elite level female artistic and rhythmic gymnastics athletes feel that they are in a permanent (chronic) diet. It is characteristic that most female gymnasts during the long hours of daily training only take on water, with no other snack. This fact is known by their coaches. Young female athletes of artistic and rhythmic gymnastics belong to the high-risk group of severe deficiency / lack of essential nutrients, mainly calcium, iron, folic acid, vit. D, zinc. It is challenging to identify and diagnose nutritional deficiencies, also deficiencies in each developmental-age gymnast for final assessment of future eating and nutritional disorders. It is advisable that guidance be provided for the nutritional support to these elite female athletes of artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.References
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