Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Body Composition and Performance in Beach Handball Players: A Cross Sectional Study

Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez, María Martínez-Olcina, María Hernández-García, Jacobo Á. Rubio-Arias, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, Daniel Lara-Cobos, Manuel Vicente-Martínez, Maria José Carvalho and Juan Antonio Sánchez-Sáez
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Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, Alicante University, 03690 Alicante, Spain
María Martínez-Olcina: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, Alicante University, 03690 Alicante, Spain
María Hernández-García: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, Alicante University, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Jacobo Á. Rubio-Arias: Department of Education, University of Almeria, 04120 Cañada, Spain
Javier Sánchez-Sánchez: School of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Daniel Lara-Cobos: Italian Handball Federation, Stadio Olimpico (Curva Nord), 00135 Roma, Italy
Manuel Vicente-Martínez: Faculty of Health Science, Miguel de Cervantes European University, 47012 Valladolid, Spain
Maria José Carvalho: Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Juan Antonio Sánchez-Sáez: GDOT Research Group, Faculty of Sport, Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Beach handball (BH) is a sport in which sporting performance is influenced, together with team interaction, by individual performance in terms of strength. Body composition is one of the main factors for sports performance and eating habits can condition this variable. The Mediterranean diet (MD) can significantly reduce the risk of mortality or cardiovascular disease. In addition, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment carries out different campaigns to promote it among young athletes, establishing it as a suitable diet for sports. Objectives: The main aims of the study are to assess body composition, physical activity and adherence to the MD of beach handball players. It also aims to evaluate age group differences in male and female players, as well as studying the possible relationship between MD, body composition and performance variables. Methods: A total of 59 Spanish BH players were recruited in the national championship of BH in the province of Alicante. Thirty-eight male (14 junior; 17.0 ± 0.1 years and 24 seniors; 25.5 ± 4.7 years) and twenty-one female (7 junior; 16.1 ± 1.46 years and 14 seniors; 23.2 ± 2.0 years) BH players participated in this study. The questionnaire to evaluate eating habits was Mediterranean diet adherence (KIDMED). Body composition was measured with electrical bioimpedance. Strength was evaluated by means of a maximum isometric handgrip test of the dominant hand with handgrip and height of jump by counter-jump on contact platform. In the statistical analysis, descriptions and correlations between the study variables were made. Results: In females, when the adherence to the MD is lower, the weight is higher, the lean body mass is lower and worse results are observed in performance tests. As for males, there are differences in weight and lean body mass according to category. Conclusions: Adequate eating habits are related to the weight of beach handball athletes. In addition, specifically with junior players, it has been observed that adherence to the MD correlates with weight.

Keywords: nutritional habits; beach handball players; bioimpedance; anthropometric profile; team sports (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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