Analysis of Body Perception, Preworkout Meal Habits and Bone Resorption in Child Gymnasts

Alessandra Amato, Patrizia Proia, Gaetano Felice Caldara, Angelina Alongi, Vincenzo Ferrantelli and Sara Baldassano
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Alessandra Amato: Department of Psychological, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Patrizia Proia: Department of Psychological, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Gaetano Felice Caldara: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy
Angelina Alongi: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy
Vincenzo Ferrantelli: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy
Sara Baldassano: Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: The beneficial effects of physical activity on body image perception and bone are debated among artistic gymnasts. Gymnasts seem to be at greater risk of developing body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and osteoporosis due to inadequate nutrition and attention to the appearance of the body. The objective of this work was to investigate the association between the artistic gymnast and a more favorable body image compared to their sedentary peers and if a preworkout high-carbohydrate meal (HCM; 300 kcal, 88% carbohydrates, 9% protein, 3% fat) or high-protein meal (HPM; 300 kcal, 55% carbohydrates, 31% protein, 13% fat) is able to attenuate bone resorption in young rhythmic gymnasts. Twenty-eight preadolescent female gymnasts were examined. Self-esteem tests were used to analyze body image perception. Preworkout eating habits were examined by short food frequency questions (FFQ) validated for children. The biomarker of the bone resorption C-terminal telopeptide region of collagen type 1 (CTX) was measured in the urine (fasting, postmeal and postworkout). Gymnasts reported higher satisfaction with their body appearance compared to sedentary peers. Of the gymnasts, 30% did not have a preworkout meal regularly, and the timing of the consumption was variable. Bone resorption was decreased by the HCM, consumed 90 min before the training, with respect to the HPM. The study suggests that playing artistic gymnastics is associated with a positive body self-perception in a child. The variability in preworkout meal frequency and timing need attention to prevent inadequate eating habits in light of the ability of the HCM to reduce acute bone resorption.

Keywords: body image perception; children; aesthetic sports; pre-workout eating habits; bone resorption; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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