1. NATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY ‘VASSIL LEVSKI’ - SOFIA
Nutrition assessment of pre-school and primary school children practising artistic gymnastics
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Author: Stefan Kolimechkov, №3333
Masters programme: Physical Education and Sports
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Emilia Pavlova, PhD
Scientific consultant: D-r Lubomir Petrov, PhD
Physiology and Biochemistry Department, NSA
Master’s Thesis | National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

2. Purpose
The aim of this study was to assess, using accessible methods for wide application in practice, the diet of pre-school and primary school children practising artistic gymnastics.
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

3. 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.
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

4. 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).
Groups:
Pre-school (3-6 years old)
Primary school (7-11 years old)
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

5. Anthropometry
Height (cm), percentile and Z-score Weight (kg), percentile and Z-score Upper arm circumference (cm) Skinfolds: triceps, subscapular (mm) Dynamometry (kg, N) BMI (kg/m2), percentile and Z-score % Body Fat Upper arm muscle area (сm2)
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

6. Skinfold & Dynamometer Tests
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

7. Height, weight and BMI assessment
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). For each variable we calculated the Z-score and percentile score for the relevant age. To distinguish the BMI scores, we used references provided by the WHO for children from 5 to 19 years of age: (overweight > +1 SD, obese > +2 SD, underweight < -2 SD, mortality <-3 SD)
+ статистика: Използвахме вариационен анализ и t-критерий на стюдънт …
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

8. Nutrition assessment
The nutrition questionnaire which had been used for adult athletes (Zaikova 2010, 2011, 2012) was adapted for our purposes in order to assess the nutrient intake in children. The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was completed by the children’s parents. It included 24 questions relating to the weekly consumption of basic foodstuffs and questions about the physical activity, height and weight of children. 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.
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

9. Anthropometric data of the children from our study
Results
Anthropometric data of the children from our study
Males
3-6 years
Females
7-11 years
Age (y)
5.00 ± 0.58
5.6 ± 0.89
7.55 ± 0.52
8.7 ± 2.11
Sport experience (m)
7.43 ± 5.35
24.6 ± 12.28
26.82 ± 15.30
14.8 ± 13.97
Height (сm)
± 6.25
± 5.91
± 3.87
± 12.09
Height
Z-score
-0.28 ± 0.65
0.10 ± 0.87
-0.28 ± 0.61
-0.27 ± 1.12
Weight (kg)
18.83 ± 2.83
21.6 ± 3.11
25.54 ± 2.79
30.87 ± 10.19
Weight
-0.39 ± 0.77
0.25 ± 0.66
-0.10 ± 0.80
-0.02 ± 1.09
BMI (kg/cm2)
14.91 ± 1.30
15.79 ± 1.06
16.01 ± 1.59
17.30 ± 2.82
BMI
-0.37 ± 1.03
0.24 ± 0.67
0.04 ± 1.03
0.304 ± 0.86
Body fat (%)
12.07 ± 2.21
14.66 ± 2.74
12.53 ± 2.80
17.36 ± 5.64
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

10. Skinfold subscapular (mm) Upper arm muscle area (сm2)
Anthropometric and dynamometric data
Males
3-6 years
Females
7-11 years
Skinfold subscapular (mm)
4.50 ± 0.58
5.72 ± 0.93
5.14 ± 0.81
7.99 ± 4.88
Skinfold triceps (mm)
7.93 ± 1.67
9.52 ± 2.29
7.77 ± 2.16
11.25 ± 4.19
Upper arm muscle area (сm2)
16.35 ± 2.11
20.19 ± 3.84
21.80 ± 2.75
25.57 ± 7.23
Grip force
Left hand (N)
69.37 ± 12.48
79.26 ± 18.27
± 28.46
93.29 ± 16.50
Right hand (N)
83.39 ± 39.65
84.37 ± 17.48
± 28.33
± 26.2
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

11. < -2 -2 to -1 -1 to 0 0 to 1 1 to 2 > 2
Фиг. 14.
< to to to to > 2
BMI Z-scores for the children under study
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

12. 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 1997
3-6 years of age, urban
population,
Bulgaria 1997
3-6 years of
age, children
under study
6-10 years of
age, urban
Expected energy
expenditure
(kcal/24 h)
1423 ± 243
1558 ± 135.9
Energy intake
1740 ± 479
1503 ± 330
2069 ± 518
1831 ± 432.2
Protein (Е%)
10.5
16.0 ± 1.7
10.7
16.1 ± 2.4
Fat (E%)
37.3
33.3 ± 3.9
40.2
34.4 ± 4.5
Carbohydrates (E %)
52.2
48.4 ± 4.7
49.1
47.3 ± 5.6
Protein
(g/kg body weight)
3.2 ± 0.9
2.9 ± 0.9
Protein (g/day)
46.2 ± 12.3
60.4 ± 14.7
55.6 ± 14.7
73.9 ± 19.1
Fat (g)
72.6 ± 21.6
55.6 ± 12.9
92.4 ± 29.5
70.0 ± 18.0
Carbohydrates (g)
228 ± 70
182 ± 45.6
254 ± 72
217.1 ± 59.3
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

13. Food intake data of boys with less than 2 years sport experience in gymnastics, and boys who are competitors with sport experience greater than 2 years
Boys (6-10 years old),
< 2 years sport experience
Competitors (6-10 years old), > 2 years sport experience
Expected energy
expenditure (kcal/24 h)
1458 ± 84.5
1557 ± 149.5
Energy intake
(kcal/24 h)
1733 ± 482.9
1868 ± 464.0
Protein (Е%)
18.0 ± 3.0
15.3 ± 1.7
Fat (E%)
34.5 ± 4.0
34.4 ± 5.3
Carbohydrates (E%)
45.2 ± 6.4
48.4 ± 5.7
Protein
(g/kg body weight)
3.1 ± 0.90
2.7 ± 0.7
Protein (g/day)
76.9 ± 19.5
71.3 ± 18.3
Carbohydrates (g)
196.8 ± 68.0
226.0 ± 61.2
Fat (g)
66.6 ± 20.1
71.6 ± 21.4
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

14. < 2 years sport experience
Фиг. 15.
Age Weight BMI UAMA Grip force (kg) Grip force (kg)
(kg) (kg/cm2) (cm2) Left hand Right hand
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)
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

15. National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

16. Energy intake (kcal/kg/24h)
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)
Group
Competitors
Overweight children
Average ± SD n
t-test
Energy expenditure
(kcal/kg/24h)
70.16± 8.82
13.00
48.73±8.98
6.00
p<0.001
Energy intake (kcal/kg/24h)
72.32± 21.19 13
63.65±15.28 6
p>0.05
Protein (g/kg)
2.87± 0.86
2.57±0.80
Fat (g/kg)
2.65± 0.88
2.30±0.50
Carbohydrates (g/kg)
8.86± 2.62
7.86±2.02
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

17. Фиг. 17
BMI Z-score and ratio (energy intake)/(energy expenditure) in the overweight children (n=6) and the children who are competitors (boys and girls, n=13)
* p < 0.05; *** p < 0.001
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

18. Фиг. 16
Average age, sports experience (months) and energy proportion of the essential nutrients in overweight children (n=6) and young athletes (boys and girls, n=13)
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

19. 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;
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

20. The food questionnaire keeps parents interested in adopting a healthy diet and adequate levels of physical activity for 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.
National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012

21. Thank You You are what you eat! Be active, do sports, feel great.
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Be active, do sports, feel great.
Repeat!
Thank You
Master’s Thesis | National Sports Academy - Sofia, 2012