Nutrition survey in elite rhythmic gymnasts

Area of Science:

• Sports Nutrition
• Dietary Practices
• Female Athletes

Background:

• Young female rhythmic gymnasts are a high-risk group for malnutrition due to weight reduction practices.
• Leanness is a common characteristic among elite rhythmic gymnasts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the dietary practices of elite Italian rhythmic gymnasts.
• To compare the nutritional intake of gymnasts with age-matched non-athletic females.

Main Methods:

• A three-day food record was collected via clinical interview from 20 Italian national rhythmic gymnasts.
• Twenty-four age-matched non-athletic females served as controls for comparison.

Main Results:

• Gymnasts and controls had similar energy intake, but both were below recommended requirements.
• Gymnasts consumed more carbohydrates and less lipids, with higher breakfast energy contribution.
• Gymnasts showed lower cholesterol and saturated fat intake, but also lower calcium, iron, and zinc intake compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Gymnasts' diets partially align with recommendations, but energy intake remains insufficient.
• Suboptimal intake of calcium, iron, and zinc necessitates potential supplementation for both groups.
• Positive dietary attitudes in gymnastics require careful management to avoid excessive restrictions and correct errors.