NATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY ‘VASSIL LEVSKI’ - SOFIA Nutrition assessment of pre-school and primary school children practising artistic gymnastics Downloaded from https://www.stk-sport.co.uk Author: Stefan Kolimechkov, №3333 Masters programme: Physical Education and Sports Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Emilia Pavlova, PhD Scientific consultant: D-r Lubomir Petrov, PhD Physiology and Biochemistry Department, NSA Master’s Thesis | National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess, using accessible methods for wide application in practice, the diet of pre-school and primary school children practising artistic gymnastics. National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Objectives and tasks Approbation and adaptation of an appropriate food questionnaire in order to assess diet and nutrition of children; Nutritional assessment of pre-school and primary school children practising artistic gymnastics; Approbation of appropriate methods in order to assess physical development in young children; Assessment of the physical development of pre- school and primary school children practising gymnastics; Assessment of nutrition and physical development based on the children's training process. National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Methods The study included 40 children, 22 boys and 18 girls, from 4 to 12 years of age, practising artistic gymnastics in ‘Sports Centre Levski’ in Sofia (Bulgaria). Groups: Pre-school (3-6 years old) Primary school (7-11 years old) National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Anthropometry Height (cm), percentile and Z-score Weight (kg), percentile and Z-score Upper arm circumference (cm) Skinfolds: triceps, subscapular (mm) Dynamometry (kg, N) BMI (kg/m2), percentile and Z-score % Body Fat Upper arm muscle area (сm2) National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Skinfold & Dynamometer Tests National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Height, weight and BMI assessment We used specialised software prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) – ‘WHO Anthro’ (for children under six years of age) and ‘WHO Anthro Plus’ (for children over six years of age), to assess height, weight and BMI in children (WHO 2007). For each variable we calculated the Z-score and percentile score for the relevant age. To distinguish the BMI scores, we used references provided by the WHO for children from 5 to 19 years of age: (overweight > +1 SD, obese > +2 SD, underweight < -2 SD, mortality <-3 SD) + статистика: Използвахме вариационен анализ и t-критерий на стюдънт … National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Nutrition assessment The nutrition questionnaire which had been used for adult athletes (Zaikova 2010, 2011, 2012) was adapted for our purposes in order to assess the nutrient intake in children. The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was completed by the children’s parents. It included 24 questions relating to the weekly consumption of basic foodstuffs and questions about the physical activity, height and weight of children. Based on the results, the daily intake of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, protein/kg body weight, in addition to the total daily energy intake (kcal/24h) was calculated . The data concerning height and weight between our measurements and those obtained from the parents were compared. National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Anthropometric data of the children from our study Results Anthropometric data of the children from our study Males 3-6 years Females 7-11 years Age (y) 5.00 ± 0.58 5.6 ± 0.89 7.55 ± 0.52 8.7 ± 2.11 Sport experience (m) 7.43 ± 5.35 24.6 ± 12.28 26.82 ± 15.30 14.8 ± 13.97 Height (сm) 112.17 ± 6.25 116.66 ± 5.91 126.27 ± 3.87 131.82 ± 12.09 Height Z-score -0.28 ± 0.65 0.10 ± 0.87 -0.28 ± 0.61 -0.27 ± 1.12 Weight (kg) 18.83 ± 2.83 21.6 ± 3.11 25.54 ± 2.79 30.87 ± 10.19 Weight -0.39 ± 0.77 0.25 ± 0.66 -0.10 ± 0.80 -0.02 ± 1.09 BMI (kg/cm2) 14.91 ± 1.30 15.79 ± 1.06 16.01 ± 1.59 17.30 ± 2.82 BMI -0.37 ± 1.03 0.24 ± 0.67 0.04 ± 1.03 0.304 ± 0.86 Body fat (%) 12.07 ± 2.21 14.66 ± 2.74 12.53 ± 2.80 17.36 ± 5.64 National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Skinfold subscapular (mm) Upper arm muscle area (сm2) Anthropometric and dynamometric data Males 3-6 years Females 7-11 years Skinfold subscapular (mm) 4.50 ± 0.58 5.72 ± 0.93 5.14 ± 0.81 7.99 ± 4.88 Skinfold triceps (mm) 7.93 ± 1.67 9.52 ± 2.29 7.77 ± 2.16 11.25 ± 4.19 Upper arm muscle area (сm2) 16.35 ± 2.11 20.19 ± 3.84 21.80 ± 2.75 25.57 ± 7.23 Grip force Left hand (N) 69.37 ± 12.48 79.26 ± 18.27 103.36 ± 28.46 93.29 ± 16.50 Right hand (N) 83.39 ± 39.65 84.37 ± 17.48 111.92 ± 28.33 100.45 ± 26.2 National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

< -2 -2 to -1 -1 to 0 0 to 1 1 to 2 > 2 Фиг. 14. < -2 -2 to -1 -1 to 0 0 to 1 1 to 2 > 2 BMI Z-scores for the children under study National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Food intake data of the children from our study and children of the same age group from the Nutritional Survey of the population of Bulgaria 1997   3-6 years of age, urban population, Bulgaria 1997 3-6 years of age, children under study 6-10 years of age, urban Expected energy expenditure (kcal/24 h) 1423 ± 243 1558 ± 135.9 Energy intake 1740 ± 479 1503 ± 330 2069 ± 518 1831 ± 432.2 Protein (Е%) 10.5 16.0 ± 1.7 10.7 16.1 ± 2.4 Fat (E%) 37.3 33.3 ± 3.9 40.2 34.4 ± 4.5 Carbohydrates (E %) 52.2 48.4 ± 4.7 49.1 47.3 ± 5.6 Protein (g/kg body weight) 3.2 ± 0.9 2.9 ± 0.9 Protein (g/day) 46.2 ± 12.3 60.4 ± 14.7 55.6 ± 14.7 73.9 ± 19.1 Fat (g) 72.6 ± 21.6 55.6 ± 12.9 92.4 ± 29.5 70.0 ± 18.0 Carbohydrates (g) 228 ± 70 182 ± 45.6 254 ± 72 217.1 ± 59.3 National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Food intake data of boys with less than 2 years sport experience in gymnastics, and boys who are competitors with sport experience greater than 2 years   Boys (6-10 years old), < 2 years sport experience Competitors (6-10 years old), > 2 years sport experience Expected energy expenditure (kcal/24 h) 1458 ± 84.5 1557 ± 149.5 Energy intake (kcal/24 h) 1733 ± 482.9 1868 ± 464.0 Protein (Е%) 18.0 ± 3.0 15.3 ± 1.7 Fat (E%) 34.5 ± 4.0 34.4 ± 5.3 Carbohydrates (E%) 45.2 ± 6.4 48.4 ± 5.7 Protein (g/kg body weight) 3.1 ± 0.90 2.7 ± 0.7 Protein (g/day) 76.9 ± 19.5 71.3 ± 18.3 Carbohydrates (g) 196.8 ± 68.0 226.0 ± 61.2 Fat (g) 66.6 ± 20.1 71.6 ± 21.4 National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

< 2 years sport experience Фиг. 15. Age Weight BMI UAMA Grip force (kg) Grip force (kg) (kg) (kg/cm2) (cm2) Left hand Right hand Anthropometric and dynamometric data of primary school boys with less than 2 years sport experience in gymnastics (n=13), and boys who are competitors with sport experience greater than 2 years (n=6). (* p < 0.05) National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Energy intake (kcal/kg/24h) Energy expenditure and energy intake; protein, fat and carbohydrate / kg body weight (Average ± SD) in the overweight children (n=6) and children who are competitors (n=13) Group Competitors Overweight children   Average ± SD n t-test Energy expenditure (kcal/kg/24h) 70.16± 8.82 13.00 48.73±8.98 6.00 p<0.001 Energy intake (kcal/kg/24h) 72.32± 21.19 13 63.65±15.28 6 p>0.05 Protein (g/kg) 2.87± 0.86 2.57±0.80 Fat (g/kg) 2.65± 0.88 2.30±0.50 Carbohydrates (g/kg) 8.86± 2.62 7.86±2.02 National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Фиг. 17 BMI Z-score and ratio (energy intake)/(energy expenditure) in the overweight children (n=6) and the children who are competitors (boys and girls, n=13) * p < 0.05; *** p < 0.001 National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Фиг. 16 Average age, sports experience (months) and energy proportion of the essential nutrients in overweight children (n=6) and young athletes (boys and girls, n=13) National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Conclusions and recommendations We recommend that weight and height in children should be measured by a coach or a health professional; The BMI does not assess weight adequately in some child athletes with greater muscle mass; The amount of aerobic exercise in training sessions should be increased for overweight children; The correct assessment of energy expenditure needs more accurate calculation including any extra physical activity; National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

The food questionnaire keeps parents interested in adopting a healthy diet and adequate levels of physical activity for their children; The nutrition questionnaire which was used gives a good indication of the average intake of the main food groups, nutrients and energy; We recommend that coaches should use their authority to encourage children to adopt a healthier diet; We recommend that more attention should be given to children's dental health including brushing teeth and chewing food. National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

Thank You You are what you eat! Be active, do sports, feel great. Downloaded from https://www.stk-sport.co.uk Be active, do sports, feel great. Repeat! Thank You Master’s Thesis | National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012