[Food habits and body composition of Spanish elite athletes in combat sports]. / Hábitos alimenticios y composición corporal de deportistas españoles de élite pertenecientes a disciplinas de combate.

INTRODUCTION: There is a scarcity of information about the dietary intake and food selection of combat sport people. Optimizing nutritional status, body weight, and body composition are key factors for their performance. AIM: The assessment of dietary intake, food habits, and body composition in elite combat sport people. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 22 sportsmen were recruited from the Spanish National Teams of Tae kwon do, Judo, and Boxing. Food intake (FFQ), food habits and body composition (DXA and Bioimpedance) were analyzed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Weight and body composition of the individuals assessed were similar to that previously described, although almost half of them were moderately over their desired competition weight. A lower than the recommended intake of vegetables (77% of individuals), cereals, bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta (73%), while red meat and derivatives intake exceeded the recommendations. Their main preferences were pasta, meat, and cereals. Legumes, vegetables, and fish were their main dislikes. A statistically significant relationship between food preferences and intakes was only observed for legumes, yogurt, and nuts. The athletes reported that reducing the intake of biscuits and confectionery (68% of individuals), high-fat foods (36%), and/or bread (27%) would be a good dietetic strategy for losing weight. None of them reported that voluntary dehydration would be a good strategy for this purpose. CONCLUSIONS: food offer to which this sport people have access and their choices are adequate, although the intake of some food groups (vegetables, red meat and derivatives) does not follow the recommendations. Their body weight slightly exceeds their competition weight, what it is frequently found in these sports. Nevertheless, their knowledge about nutrition and dietetics applied to exercise are acceptable.

Hábitos alimenticios y composición corporal de deportistas españoles de élite pertenecientes a disciplinas de combate / Food habits and body composition of Spanish elite athletes in combat sports

Introducción: La información disponible acerca de las prácticas dietéticas habituales y los factores que influyen en la selección de alimentos en deportistas de combate es escasa a pesar de su importancia para optimizar el estado nutricional. Objetivo: Evaluar la ingesta dietética, los hábitos alimenticios y la composición corporal de deportistas de combate de élite. Sujetos y métodos: Se analizaron el consumo de alimentos (CFCA), los hábitos alimenticios y la composición corporal (DXA y Bioimpedancia) de 22 deportistas varones pertenecientes a las Selecciones Nacionales Españolas de taekwondo, judo y boxeo. Resultados y discusión: El peso y la composición corporal fueron similares a los descritos previamente, aunque casi la mitad de los deportistas estaba moderadamente por encima de su peso de competición. Se observó un consumo bajo de verduras y hortalizas (77% de los individuos) y cereales, pan, arroz, patatas y pasta (73%) y elevado de carnes grasas, embutidos. Las principales preferencias fueron pasta, carne y cereales; las aversiones, legumbres, verduras y pescado. Las preferencias sólo se relacionaron estadísticamente con la ingesta de legumbres, yogur y frutos secos. Con respecto a las modificaciones dietéticas que consideraban más adecuadas para perder peso, el 68% indicó que habría que disminuir o eliminar los dulces y la bollería, el 36% los alimentos grasos y el 27% el pan. Ninguno declaróque utilizaría la deshidratación voluntaria con este fin. Conclusiones: la oferta alimentaria a la que tienen acceso estos deportistas y su selección dietética son adecuadas, aunque el consumo de algunos grupos de alimentos (verduras y hortalizas; carnes grasas, embutidos) no se ajusta a las recomendaciones. Presentan un peso ligeramente superior al de su categoría de competición, lo que es característico de este tipo de deportes. No obstante, muestran unos conocimientos aceptables sobre nutrición y dietética aplicada a su deporte (AU)

Introduction: There is a scarcity of information about the dietary intake and food selection of combat sport people. Optimizing nutritional status, body weight, and body composition are key factors for their performance. Aim: The assessment of dietary intake, food habits, and body composition in elite combat sport people. Subjects and methods: 22 sportmen were recruited from the Spanish National Teams of Taekwondo, Judo, and Boxing. Food intake (FFQ), food habits and bodycomposition (DXA and Bioimpedance) were analyzed. Results and discussion: Weight and body composition of the individuals assessed were similar to that previously described, although almost half of them were moderately over their desired competition weight. A lower than the recommended intake of vegetables (77% of individuals), cereals, bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta (73%), while red meat and derivatives intake exceeded the recommendations. Their main preferences were pasta, meat, and cereals. Legumes, vegetables, and fish were their main dislikes. A statistically significant relationship between food preferences and intakes was only observed for legumes, yogurt, and nuts. The athletes reported that reducing the intake of biscuits and confectionery (68% of individuals), high-fat foods (36%), and/or bread (27%) would be a good dietetic strategy for losing weight. None of them reported that voluntary dehydration would be a good strategy for this purpose. Conclusions: food offer to which this sport people have access and their choices are adequate, although the intake of some food groups (vegetables, red meat and derivatives) does not follow the recommendations. Their body weight slightly exceeds their competition weight, what it is frequently found in these sports. Nevertheless, their knowledge about nutrition and dietetics applied to exercise are acceptable (AU)

Alimentación en el ejercicio físico / No disponible

No disponible

Importancia de los productos lácteos y su papel fisiológico sobre el rendimiento deportivo / Importance of lacte products and their physiological role upon sports performance

No disponible

[Nutrition and physical exercise]. / Nutrición y ejercicio físico.

The principles of a good diet and proper nutrition are the same for people practising sports and for non-athletes. The main difference lies in the amount of energy that sportsmen and women need to carry out a more intense physical activity and to keep an appropriate weight to allow greater performance. The relationship between nutrition and physical exercise has often been shrouded in confusion and conjecture, so certain products or supplements turn into real myths through attempts to achieve better athletic results, despite the fact the information available on the true effect of a particular substance or food on athletic performance is, quite limited and disputed. This paper attempts to clarify the scientific information available on this subject.