Chor San Heng Khoo

Nutritional status of teenage female competitive figure skaters.

OBJECTIVE To assess the nutritional status of female competitive figure skaters during preseason, competitive season, and off-season. SUBJECTS Eighteen female competitive figure skaters, age range 14 to 16 years, from the New England region. STATISTICS Data was analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance, Duncan Multiple Range Tests, one-sample t tests, and confidence intervals. DESIGN Nutrient intakes were determined from 3-day diet records. Body composition was assessed through heights, weights, and underwater weighing. Blood samples were drawn for analysis of selected indexes of nutritional status. RESULTS Height and weight did not differ significantly among the seasons. Body fat was 1.1 kg higher off-season compared with preseason. Energy intake over the 3 seasons did not vary significantly (mean preseason: 1,678 kcal/day; competitive season, 1,630 kcal/day; off-season: 1,673 kcal/day) (P>.05). During the competitive season 78%, 50%, and 44% of the skaters had intakes less than 67% of RDA for folate, iron, and calcium, respectively. Most of the biochemical indexes of nutritional status were within normal limits. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that teenage female skaters have relatively low energy intake and inadequate intakes of certain nutrients, which may account for some of the observed seasonal variations in blood markers of nutritional status. These findings point to the need for nutrition education for these athletes, especially during their competitive season when nutritional status may be compromised.

Nutrient Intake and Eating Patterns of Elite and World/Olympic Figure Skaters

Abstract The nutritional intakes and eating patterns of elite, world and Olympian figure skaters were evaluated. Three day diet records, weights and heights were collected. Participants included 20 females 17.7 ± 8 years of age and 18 males 19.5 ± 3.6 years of age. Average weight and height for females was 107.5 ± 15.0 pounds, 5.1 ± .2 feet and for males, 146.1 ± 17.7 pounds, 5.6 ± .2 feet. Average daily caloric intakes were 1473 ± 506Kcal for females and 2795 ± 1152Kcal for males. Percentage of calories from carbohydrate, protein and fat for females were 59, 18 and 25 respectively. Percentage of calories from carbohydrate, protein and fat for males were 55, 16 and 30 respectively. Distribution of calories for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for females vs males was 310 ± 196 vs. 477 ± 274, 388 ± 245 vs. 875 ± 529, 503 ± 281 vs. 824 ± 558, and 270 ± 320 vs. 618 ± 784 respectively. For females, caloric intake was below the norm for their age group, however males were within 93% of their age group. Males consumed more calories from snack occasions vs. females. The most frequently consumed snacks for both females and males were water, fruit, nonfat skim milk, diet sodas, powerbars and fruit bars. Females obtained a higher percentage of calories at dinner(34) vs. males(29). The caloric density of fat by meal occasion was higher for males vs. females at lunch(.04 vs. .03), dinner(.04 vs. .03) and snacking(.03 vs. .02), respectively. The low caloric intake of the female skaters may be increased by raising the consumption of their fat intake. Although the skaters as a group were consuming three meals and snacks its important to evaluate the individual eating patterns and nutrient distribution to develop a program to meet their nutritional and performance needs.