Deaths in Open Water Swimming Races in Brazil from 2009 to 2019.

Since the inclusion in the Olympic Games (2008), open swimming races have attracted greater media attention and, therefore, have a greater number of practitioners, especially in Brazil, an extremely favorable country for this sport. However, increasing reports of fatal incidents in open water races brought the medical and scientific community to attention. The aim of this study was to review the characteristics of deaths in open waters events in Brazil from 2009 to 2019. The survey was divided into 3 steps: 1) contacting sports-related federations and companies, including swimming and triathlon federations, master associations and event organizing companies; 2) internet search; and 3) personal communication with athletes, coaches, organizers, and health personnel. A total of 12 deaths were observed in open water swimming races, including triathlon swimming segment races in Brazil from 2009 to 2019. The average was 1.1 deaths per year, whereas in the last 3 years (2017-2019) the average was 3 deaths per year. The male participants accounted for 11 deaths (91.7%), the average age was 47 years old, experienced athletes were more affected (80%), and incidents occurred mainly in ocean waters (75%). The increase of deaths in the last 3 years draws attention, and the best way to reduce the deaths by drowning in open waters in Brazil, is to understand the profile and causes, to propose solutions.

The prevalence of disordered eating and possible health consequences in adolescent female tennis players from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of disordered eating and possible health consequences in adolescent female tennis players. This cross-sectional controlled study investigated the pubertal development (Tanner stages); body composition (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-DXA); dietary intake (food record); presence of disordered eating (EAT-26, BITE and BSQ); menstrual status (questionnaire) and bone mineral density (DXA). The Female Athlete Triad (FAT) was divided into two severity stages. The study included 45 adolescents (24 athletes and 21 controls) at some pubertal developmental stage. The athletes exhibited better body composition profiles. We found that 91.7%, 33.3% and 25% of athletes and 71.4%, 9.5% and 33.3% of controls met criteria for disordered eating and/or low energy availability, menstrual irregularities and low bone mass, respectively. A greater percentage of athletes than controls presented with 1 and 2 FAT components (stage I), and 4.2% presented with the full syndrome. In conclusion, tennis players appear to present with more severe disorders than controls and should be monitored to avoid damage to their performance and health.

The response of serum leptin, cortisol and zinc concentrations to concurrent training.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of concurrent training (CT) on serum leptin, cortisol and zinc concentrations in physically active adults. DESIGN: Ten subjects aged (27.1±4.8 years, BMI 25.49 ± 2.65) were recruited to participate in three sessions: control session (CS), concurrent training 1 (CT1) and concurrent training 2 (CT2) sessions with five days of resting between them. In each session blood samples for leptin, cortisol and zinc determination were collected. CT1 session included indoor cycling class followed by strength training. CT2 session included strength training, followed by indoor cycling class. In CS there were no exercises. The Shapiro-Wilk test, repeated ANOVA test and Tukey Post-Hoc test were used. RESULTS: There was a reduction in leptin levels after CT1 (Δ% = -16.04; p = 0.05) and CT2 (Δ% = -8.54; p = 0.02). Cortisol also showed a reduction after CT1 (Δ% = -26.32; p = 0.02) and CT2 (Δ% = -33.57; p = 0.05), whereas zinc did not show any significant alterations after any of the training sessions. There was also significant difference for the leptin and cortisol values between CT1 and CT2. CONCLUSIONS: CT promoted reduction in serum leptin and cortisol levels independently of the training order, while no significant changes in zinc concentrations were observed.