Dietary habits and physical self-concept of elite rhythmic gymnasts

• Authors: Szilvia Boros
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Study aim: To identify main differences in nutrient patterns, food preferences and physical self-concept between the world's elite rhythmic gymnasts and untrained controls.Material and methods: A group of elite rhythmic gymnasts (n = 103) aged 15 - 21 years volunteered to participate in the study during the 2003 World Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics (Budapest, Hungary). A selected group of 113 untrained schoolgirls aged 15 - 18 years served as controls. Typical eating habits and physical self-concept were assessed by applying a questionnaire containing questions on dietary habits and on self-concept (taken from the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale).Results: The female gymnasts had significantly lower (p<0.01) body mass and BMI than their untrained mates. The levels of physical self-concept were similar in both groups. Rhythmic gymnasts declared eating lunch and dinner, as well as eating sweets, eating excessively and liking eating, less frequently than their untrained mates (p<0.01).Conclusion: Attaining a perfect body by elite gymnasts may mean a very high cost associated with poor dietary habits and inadequate nutrient intake.

Keywords

EN

Physical self-concept; Elite athletes; Rhythmic gymnastics; Dietary habits

• Publisher: Versita
• Journal: Biomedical Human Kinetics
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 1
• Pages: 1-2

Dates

published

1 - 1 - 2009

online

6 - 4 - 2009

Contributors

author

Szilvia Boros

• Faculty of Physical Education, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

References

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10101-009-0001-2