Level of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Weight Status among Adolescent Female Gymnasts: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ioanna Kontele,Maria G Grammatikopoulou,Tonia Vassilakou

doi:10.3390/children8121135

Ioanna Kontele, Maria G Grammatikopoulou + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/children8121135

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Abstract

Adolescent female gymnasts are a vulnerable population in terms of their diet, as their nutritional needs are higher due to their growth and high daily training demands. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a well-known dietary pattern that is associated with a greater nutritional adequacy and a lower prevalence of overweight. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the degree of adherence to the MD among adolescent female athletes who participated in all disciplines of gymnastics in Greece, as well as to explore the potential correlations between MD adherence, body weight, and body mass index (BMI). A total of 269 female gymnasts (between 11–18 years old) completed the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and reported their weight and height. Approximately 10% of the participants were underweight and a mere 5.6% were classified as overweight. A high adherence to the MD was reported by 34.9% of the sample and this was correlated with a healthier BMI. Moreover, specific eating habits, such as eating nuts 2–3 times per week and eating fast-food less than once-weekly, were also associated with BMI. Athletes, parents, and coaches of gymnastics should be informed and educated regarding balanced nutrition habits. Future studies could evaluate adherence to MD, as well as the factors that influence the eating behaviors of adolescent female and male athletes in various sports.

Highlights

Adequate nutrition, both in terms of quantity and quality, is especially important during adolescence in order to meet the increased demands of development and promote optimal physical, cognitive, and psychological health [1]
As underweight is a serious and frequent problem in gymnastics, we explored if this association meant that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was associated with a greater risk of being underweight
The present study showed that a significant number of gymnasts do not adhere to the MD, while associations between total adherence to MD and specific eating habits and body mass index (BMI)

Summary

Introduction

Both in terms of quantity and quality, is especially important during adolescence in order to meet the increased demands of development and promote optimal physical, cognitive, and psychological health [1]. Nutritional deficits in adolescence are not as severe as they appear in childhood and infancy, adolescents are considered as a nutritionally vulnerable population for a variety of reasons, including their greater developmental requirements, their usually unhealthy eating habits, and their lifestyle particularities [2,3,4]. According to studies primarily from Western countries, adolescents’ diets appear to be less adequate than those of adults [6]. Adolescents’ unhealthy eating habits include frequent snacking with high-energy and low nutrient density foods, skipping meals, consuming low amounts of fruits and vegetables, and eating fast food frequently [6,7,8,9]. Many adolescents, females, drastically limit their energy intake in their attempt to lose body weight [10,11]

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