<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim:</italic> To identify main differences in nutrient patterns, food preferences and physical self-concept between the world's elite rhythmic gymnasts and untrained controls.<italic>Material and methods:</italic> 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).<italic>Results:</italic> The female gymnasts had significantly lower (p&lt;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&lt;0.01).<italic>Conclusion:</italic> Attaining a perfect body by elite gymnasts may mean a very high cost associated with poor dietary habits and inadequate nutrient intake.</abstract>

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.

Dietary habits and physical self-concept of elite rhythmic gymnasts

Faculty of Physical Education, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Biomedical Human Kinetics

{"article-title":"Dietary habits and physical self-concept of elite rhythmic gymnasts"}

Study aim: To identify main differences in nutrient patterns, food preferences and physical self-concept between the world's elite rhythmic gymnasts and...

Dietary habits and physical self-concept of elite rhythmic gymnasts

Published Online: Apr 06, 2009

Page range: 1 - 2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-009-0001-2

Keywords
Physical self-concept, Elite athletes, Rhythmic gymnastics, Dietary habits

This content is open access.

Dietary habits and physical self-concept of elite rhythmic gymnasts

Published Online: Apr 06, 2009

Page range: 1 - 2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-009-0001-2

KeywordsPhysical self-concept, Elite athletes, Rhythmic gymnastics, Dietary habits

This content is open access.

Keywords
Physical self-concept, Elite athletes, Rhythmic gymnastics, Dietary habits