Nutritional profile and physical fitness of sports women

Abstract

A study on the nutritional status and physical fitness of 100 sports women was carried out in Thrissur district during the year 2004-2005. Details pertaining to the socio- economic variables, dietary habits, food consumption pattern, nutritional status, energy balance and physical fitness of the respondents were studied in detail. The results of the study indicated that majority of the families were Hindus and belonged to other backward communities. The family size ranged from four to six and majority followed nuclear family system. Majority of the families had a monthly income of Rs.1000-5000 and majority of the families had a per capita income below Rs. 500. Selected respondents were in the age group of 18-24 years. Majority of the respondents were of first birth order and birth interval was found to be 2 years. Most of them attained their first menstruation by the age of 14 years. All the respondents participated in district and state level competitions and used to undergo regular physical exercises. Most of them participated in coaching camps. Very few of them practiced yoga. About 41 per cent of the respondents used to undergo periodic medical checkup and only 4 per cent of respondents consumed regular medicines. All the respondents surveyed were non vegetarians and consumed rice as the staple food. All of them preferred both vegetarian and non vegetarian foods. Most frequently used foods were found to be cereals, other vegetables, fruits, nuts and oil seeds, spices and condiments and sugar. Three major meal pattern a day was followed by all the respondents. All the respondents included raw foods in their diet. Ready made and prepared foods were also consumed by the respondents. About 30 per cent of the respondents used to take food and nutrient supplements. Majority of the respondents consumed pregame meal, post game meal and modified their diet during competitions. Actual nutrient intake of the respondents indicated that the intake of energy, fat, calcium, thiamin and beta carotene was lower than RDA. The nutritional profile of the respondents indicated that the body weight varied from 42 kg to 94 kg with a mean weight of 52.24 kg and the height varied from 150 cm to 177 cm with an average height of 162.36 cm. Only 36 per cent of the respondents had a normal body mass index. Majority of the respondents had a mid upper arm circumferences above standard, where as triceps skin fold thickness of the respondents was found to be less than the standard. Waist hip ratio of 97 per cent of the respondents was found to be less than 0.85. Most of the respondents had a body fat percentage less than the standard. Lean body mass of majority of the respondents was in the range of 40 to 44.99 Kg. Clinical examination showed different symptoms of nutritional deficiencies among few respondents. Biochemical estimation showed that majority of the respondents had a normal haemoglobin status and low urinary urea level. About 14 per cent of the respondents had an excellent endurance capacity and 39 per cent had a lung capacity in between 351 to 501cc/second. A positive energy balance was noted among athletes, hand ballers, weight/ power lifters, judo players, swimmers and cricket and hockey players and a negative energy balance was noted among basket ball and kabadi players when the daily energy intake was compared with daily energy expenditure.