Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elite adolescent female figure skaters compete in an aesthetic-based sport that values thin builds and lithe figures. To conform to the sport’s physical requirements, skaters may alter their eating patterns in unhealthful directions....

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dwyer Johanna, Eisenberg Alanna, Prelack Kathy, Song Won O, Sonneville Kendrin, Ziegler Paula
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2012-12-01
Series:Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jissn.com/content/9/1/53
_version_ 1818237396484882432
author Dwyer Johanna
Eisenberg Alanna
Prelack Kathy
Song Won O
Sonneville Kendrin
Ziegler Paula
author_facet Dwyer Johanna
Eisenberg Alanna
Prelack Kathy
Song Won O
Sonneville Kendrin
Ziegler Paula
author_sort Dwyer Johanna
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elite adolescent female figure skaters compete in an aesthetic-based sport that values thin builds and lithe figures. To conform to the sport’s physical requirements, skaters may alter their eating patterns in unhealthful directions. This study assesses the eating attitudes and dietary intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters to assess the potential nutritional risks among them.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-six elite competitive adolescent female figure skaters (mean age 16 ± 2.5 SD years) completed self-administered three-day records of dietary intake and simultaneous physical activity records during training season. Two months later, they attended a national training camp during which they completed the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), provided fasting blood samples, and had heights and weights measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants’ mean body mass index (BMI) was 19.8 ± 2.1 SD. Their BMIs were within the normal range, and the majority (70%) did not report a history of recent weight loss. The mean EAT-40 score was normal (19.5 ± 13.5 SD) and below the cut-off score of 30 that indicates clinically significant eating pathology. However, one-quarter of the skaters had EAT-40 scores above 30. The skaters reported a mean energy intake of 1491 ± 471 SD kcal/day (31 ± 10 SD kcal/kg), with 61.6% of calories from carbohydrate, 14.6% from protein, and 23.7% from fat. Their reported dietary intakes were high in carbohydrates but low in total energy, fat, and bone-building nutrients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although these highly active young women compete in a sport that prizes leanness, they had appropriate weights. The athletes reported dietary intakes that were far below estimated energy needs and were at moderate risk of disordered eating. Anticipatory guidance is warranted to improve their dietary intakes, particularly of bone-building nutrients.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-12T12:25:06Z
format Article
id doaj.art-80165acb161d4ab1920a51a9ec9f1479
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1550-2783
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-12T12:25:06Z
publishDate 2012-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
spelling doaj.art-80165acb161d4ab1920a51a9ec9f14792022-12-22T00:24:34ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition1550-27832012-12-01915310.1186/1550-2783-9-53Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional studyDwyer JohannaEisenberg AlannaPrelack KathySong Won OSonneville KendrinZiegler Paula<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elite adolescent female figure skaters compete in an aesthetic-based sport that values thin builds and lithe figures. To conform to the sport’s physical requirements, skaters may alter their eating patterns in unhealthful directions. This study assesses the eating attitudes and dietary intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters to assess the potential nutritional risks among them.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-six elite competitive adolescent female figure skaters (mean age 16 ± 2.5 SD years) completed self-administered three-day records of dietary intake and simultaneous physical activity records during training season. Two months later, they attended a national training camp during which they completed the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), provided fasting blood samples, and had heights and weights measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Participants’ mean body mass index (BMI) was 19.8 ± 2.1 SD. Their BMIs were within the normal range, and the majority (70%) did not report a history of recent weight loss. The mean EAT-40 score was normal (19.5 ± 13.5 SD) and below the cut-off score of 30 that indicates clinically significant eating pathology. However, one-quarter of the skaters had EAT-40 scores above 30. The skaters reported a mean energy intake of 1491 ± 471 SD kcal/day (31 ± 10 SD kcal/kg), with 61.6% of calories from carbohydrate, 14.6% from protein, and 23.7% from fat. Their reported dietary intakes were high in carbohydrates but low in total energy, fat, and bone-building nutrients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although these highly active young women compete in a sport that prizes leanness, they had appropriate weights. The athletes reported dietary intakes that were far below estimated energy needs and were at moderate risk of disordered eating. Anticipatory guidance is warranted to improve their dietary intakes, particularly of bone-building nutrients.</p>http://www.jissn.com/content/9/1/53Eating attitudesFemale athletesDisordered eatingEAT scoresDietary intakeBMI
spellingShingle Dwyer Johanna
Eisenberg Alanna
Prelack Kathy
Song Won O
Sonneville Kendrin
Ziegler Paula
Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional study
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Eating attitudes
Female athletes
Disordered eating
EAT scores
Dietary intake
BMI
title Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional study
title_full Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional study
title_fullStr Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional study
title_short Eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters: a cross sectional study
title_sort eating attitudes and food intakes of elite adolescent female figure skaters a cross sectional study
topic Eating attitudes
Female athletes
Disordered eating
EAT scores
Dietary intake
BMI
url http://www.jissn.com/content/9/1/53
work_keys_str_mv AT dwyerjohanna eatingattitudesandfoodintakesofeliteadolescentfemalefigureskatersacrosssectionalstudy
AT eisenbergalanna eatingattitudesandfoodintakesofeliteadolescentfemalefigureskatersacrosssectionalstudy
AT prelackkathy eatingattitudesandfoodintakesofeliteadolescentfemalefigureskatersacrosssectionalstudy
AT songwono eatingattitudesandfoodintakesofeliteadolescentfemalefigureskatersacrosssectionalstudy
AT sonnevillekendrin eatingattitudesandfoodintakesofeliteadolescentfemalefigureskatersacrosssectionalstudy
AT zieglerpaula eatingattitudesandfoodintakesofeliteadolescentfemalefigureskatersacrosssectionalstudy