Analysis of Body Perception, Preworkout Meal Habits and Bone Resorption in Child Gymnasts

Abstract

The beneficial effects of physical activity on body image perception and bone are debated among artistic gymnasts. Gymnasts seem to be at greater risk of developing body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and osteoporosis due to inadequate nutrition and attention to the appearance of the body. The objective of this work was to investigate the association between the artistic gymnast and a more favorable body image compared to their sedentary peers and if a preworkout high-carbohydrate meal (HCM; 300 kcal, 88% carbohydrates, 9% protein, 3% fat) or high-protein meal (HPM; 300 kcal, 55% carbohydrates, 31% protein, 13% fat) is able to attenuate bone resorption in young rhythmic gymnasts. Twenty-eight preadolescent female gymnasts were examined. Self-esteem tests were used to analyze body image perception. Preworkout eating habits were examined by short food frequency questions (FFQ) validated for children. The biomarker of the bone resorption C-terminal telopeptide region of collagen type 1 (CTX) was measured in the urine (fasting, postmeal and postworkout). Gymnasts reported higher satisfaction with their body appearance compared to sedentary peers. Of the gymnasts, 30% did not have a preworkout meal regularly, and the timing of the consumption was variable. Bone resorption was decreased by the HCM, consumed 90 min before the training, with respect to the HPM. The study suggests that playing artistic gymnastics is associated with a positive body self-perception in a child. The variability in preworkout meal frequency and timing need attention to prevent inadequate eating habits in light of the ability of the HCM to reduce acute bone resorption.

Keywords: aesthetic sports; body image perception; bone resorption; children; physical activity; pre-workout eating habits.

Figure 1

Effects of the pre-exercise meals on collagen type 1 (CTX) levels in female child artistic gymnasts. Urine samples were collected at 0, 90, 180 and 240 min. The meal was consumed after the first urine sample was collected (0 min). The duration of the sports session competition was 90 min and was simulated from time 90 to time 180 min. (A) Effects of the HPM and HCM on CTX levels. Mean CTX levels shown as percent of basal level (B) Mean area under the curve (AUC) 0 to 240 min of CTX. Error bars depict SEM. Asterisks (*) depict statistically significant differences. Statistical significance is set at p < 0.05. n = 14 in each group.

Figure 2

Body image perception of the gymnast group (which included the gymnasts of both the HPM and HCM groups) compared with the control group (the control group consisted of sedentary peers). A subscale of the multidimensional test of self-esteem was used to analyze self-esteem of body image. Error bars depict SEM. Asterisks (*) depict statistically significant differences. Statistical significance is set at p < 0.05; n = 28 in each group.