Nutrition assessment of pre-school and primary school children practising artistic gymnastics Supervisor: D-r Lubomir Petrov, PhD Author: Stefan Kolimechkov Expert in Physical Education and Sports 1 Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012 Downloaded from

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the diet and the physical development of pre-school and primary school children practising artistic gymnastics. 2Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 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. 3Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 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). 4Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

Anthropometry Upper arm circumference (cm), Skinfolds – triceps and scapular (mm), Dynamometry (kg) Height (cm) Weight (kg) BMI (kg/m 2 ) percentile and Z-score % Body fat UAMA (сm 2 ) 5Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

Skinfold & Dynamometer Tests 6Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

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). 7Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

Nutrition assessment 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. 8Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

Results Males 3-6 years Females 3-6 years Males 7-11 years Females 7-11 years Age (y) 5.00 ± ± ± ± 2.11 Sport experience (m) 7.43 ± ± ± ± Height (сm) ± ± ± ± Height Z-score ± ± ± ± 1.12 Weight (kg) ± ± ± ± Weight Z-score ± ± ± ± 1.09 BMI (kg/cm 2) ± ± ± ± 2.82 BMI Z-score ± ± ± ± 0.86 Body fat (%) ± ± ± ± 5.64 Anthropometric data of the children from our study 9Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

Anthropometric and dynamometric data Males 3-6 years Females 3-6 years Males 7-11 years Females 7-11 years Skinfold subscapular (mm) 4.50 ± ± ± ± 4.88 Skinfold triceps (mm) 7.93 ± ± ± ± 4.19 Upper arm muscle area (сm 2 ) ± ± ± ± 7.23 Grip force Left hand (N) ± ± ± ± Grip force Right hand (N) ± ± ± ± Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

BMI Z-scores for the children under study 11 2 Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

3-6 years of age, urban population, Bulgaria years of age, children under study 6-10 years of age, urban population, Bulgaria years of age, children under study Expected energy expenditure (kcal/24 h) 1423 ± ± Energy intake (kcal/24 h) 1740 ± ± ± ± Protein (Е%) ± ± 2.4 Fat (E%) ± ± 4.5 Carbohydrates (E %) ± ± 5.6 Protein (g/kg body weight) 3.2 ± ± 0.9 Protein (g/day) 46.2 ± ± ± ± 19.1 Fat (g) 72.6 ± ± ± ± 18.0 Carbohydrates (g) 228 ± ± ± ± 59.3 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 Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

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) 13 Age Weight BMI UAMA Grip force (kg) Grip force (kg) (kg) (kg/cm 2 ) (cm 2 ) Left hand Right hand < 2 years sport experience > 2 years sport experience Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

GroupCompetitorsOverweight children Average ± SDn nt-test Energy expenditure (kcal/kg/24h) 70.16± ± p<0.001 Energy intake (kcal/kg/24h) 72.32± ±15.286p>0.05 Protein (g/kg) 2.87± ±0.806p>0.05 Fat (g/kg) 2.65± ±0.506p>0.05 Carbohydrates (g/kg) 8.86± ±2.026p>0.05 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) 14Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 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; 15Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

The food questionnaire keeps parents interested in the healthy diet and physical activity of 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. 16Gymnastics Club Levski, Sofia (Bulgaria), 2012

You are what you eat! Be active, do sports, feel great. Repeat! Thank You! 17 Downloaded from