The nutrition and health profile of the Turkish female national weightlifting team who attended to pre-camp of Beijing Olympics- Pilot study

Abstract

In this study, National Turkish weightlifter female team who joined preparation camp before 2008 Beijing Olympiads nutrition habits, food intake, using of nutritional ergogenic aids, anthropometric measures and biochemical findings have been evaluated. Nine athletes who have been taken the camp participated to this study. The information were collected about their anthropometric (height, body weight, waist-hip circumference, waist / height ratio, body fat values) and biochemical measures, nutritional habits of the athletes. Total energy were evaluated by taking three days food consumption records of macro and micro-nutrient consumption and and analyzed with nutrition information program (BEBIS). All the parameters have been analysized as statistics, mean and standart deviations have been calculated. It has been determined that athletes haven’t intake sufficient energy, needs of macro and micro nutrition nutrients (especially, they have been consuming protein, carbohydrate, calcium, potassium, iron, folic acid and B₁ vitamin insufficently), and their intake of fluid and fibre are insufficent. It has been found that athletes are using supplements (aminoacid, whey protein, multivitamin/mineral, tribulus terrestris, glucozamine chondroitin sulfate, gincgo bloba ve creatine) and they aren’t conscious enough using these products. Inspite of aminoacid and protein supports, it has been understood that intake doesn’t cover necessity. It has been found as average of athletes age is 19.7 ± 3.7 years, average of height is 156.7 ± 5.9 cm, average of body weight is 57.5 ± 10.4 kg, average of body mass index (BMI) is 23.2 ± 2.7 kg/m², average of body fat percentage is %21.8 ± 5.9, average of body fat mass 13.0 ± 5.9 kg. It has been found that there were five athletes who are more heavier than body weight (3.2± 1.0 kg) by competition weight, and there is one athletes who has lower weight (4 kg) by competition weight. It has been concluded that athletes have needed more information about nutrition and using ergogenic aids.