Prise en charge nutritionnelle des enfants sportifs de haut niveau

Abstract

The nutritional care of children and adolescents who practice sports more than 10 h/weeks is an important task. Advices must be adapted to the child according to his sport, his age, his gender, his weight and to the intensity of his physical activity; they intend to provide him, in addition to his basal requirements, those due to the extra expenses of water, energy, minerals and vitamins. The aim of the physician is to allow these children an adequate growth and the normal development of puberty, to prevent deficiencies and to concur with other specialists to the prevention of muscle, joint and bone wounds who can affect a growing organism. This ambitious program relies on a thorough knowledge in pediatrics, nutrition and sport in order to adapt the advice to the specific way of life of the child, taking into account the schedules of school time, training and competition. Such an approach needs that every child undergoes a medical examination 3-4 times/year, a biological check up at least once a year, a careful follow up of growth and pubertal maturation. Every time it is possible parents and coaches are encouraged to attend the visit when everything is OK and even more when difficulties occur, whether they are due to somatic or psychological trouble or in case of poor performance induced discouragement. A balanced nutrition, an adequate counseling and an adapted follow up are essential for the success of athletes; they do not make champions from them but decrease the hazard of wounds, underperformances and make easier blossoming for children.