Introduction Ironman triathletes appear to profit from low body fat (Knechtle et Al. 2011). The aim of this study was to investigate eating habits and body composition in a group of recreational male Ironman, who were in the preparing season for an imminent competition. They trained for about 20 hours/week. Methods Five recreational male Ironman triathletes participated in the study. Each of them completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess their usual diet (Fidanza et Al.,1995) and attended a small interview, so that their daily physical activity level (PAL) was determined. PAL was obtained by dividing Total Energy Expenditure by Base Metabolic Rate (Black et al. 1995). For each subject Fat Mass percentage (FM%) was detected twice by mean of plicometry: eight and one weeks before the competition (Durnin and Womersley, 1974). Dietary recommendations were given to each of them in order to correct their diet as to perfectly fit their needs in term of calories and nutrients. Results Processing of the FFQ emphasized that energy requirements were not fulfilled. In detail, their PAL was about 2, but there was more than 1000 Kcal difference between average intake and average needs, mostly from calories derived from complex carbohydrates, so that their diet was adjusted to fit their needs. In the second detection, made one week before the race, each participant modified his body composition reducing his FM%. Discussion Results of the present investigation show that the dietary status of our sample of triathletes lacked both in term of food quantity and quality. Taking into account that Iroman competition highly recruit the energetic sources of athletes, it is possible to speculate that they may take advantage from a correction of their eating habit by a proper dietary counseling. References Knechtle B, Knechtle P, Rüst CA, Rosemann T (2011)J Sports Sci, 29(13);1373-80 Fidanza F, Gentile MG, Porrini M. (1995), Eur J Epidemiol, 11;163- 170 Black AE, Coward WA, Cole TJ, Prentice AM, (1996) Eur J Clin Nutr, 50 (2); 72-92. Durnin JV, Womersley J (1974), Br J Nutr, 32(1);77-97.
BODY COMPOSITION CHANGES AND EATING BEHAVIOR IN RECREATIONAL MALE IRONMAN TRIATHLETES
GHIANI, GIOVANNA MARIA;MARONGIU, ELISABETTA;TOCCO, FILIPPO;
2013-01-01
Abstract
Introduction Ironman triathletes appear to profit from low body fat (Knechtle et Al. 2011). The aim of this study was to investigate eating habits and body composition in a group of recreational male Ironman, who were in the preparing season for an imminent competition. They trained for about 20 hours/week. Methods Five recreational male Ironman triathletes participated in the study. Each of them completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess their usual diet (Fidanza et Al.,1995) and attended a small interview, so that their daily physical activity level (PAL) was determined. PAL was obtained by dividing Total Energy Expenditure by Base Metabolic Rate (Black et al. 1995). For each subject Fat Mass percentage (FM%) was detected twice by mean of plicometry: eight and one weeks before the competition (Durnin and Womersley, 1974). Dietary recommendations were given to each of them in order to correct their diet as to perfectly fit their needs in term of calories and nutrients. Results Processing of the FFQ emphasized that energy requirements were not fulfilled. In detail, their PAL was about 2, but there was more than 1000 Kcal difference between average intake and average needs, mostly from calories derived from complex carbohydrates, so that their diet was adjusted to fit their needs. In the second detection, made one week before the race, each participant modified his body composition reducing his FM%. Discussion Results of the present investigation show that the dietary status of our sample of triathletes lacked both in term of food quantity and quality. Taking into account that Iroman competition highly recruit the energetic sources of athletes, it is possible to speculate that they may take advantage from a correction of their eating habit by a proper dietary counseling. References Knechtle B, Knechtle P, Rüst CA, Rosemann T (2011)J Sports Sci, 29(13);1373-80 Fidanza F, Gentile MG, Porrini M. (1995), Eur J Epidemiol, 11;163- 170 Black AE, Coward WA, Cole TJ, Prentice AM, (1996) Eur J Clin Nutr, 50 (2); 72-92. Durnin JV, Womersley J (1974), Br J Nutr, 32(1);77-97.
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