| Special attention to the weight-control strategies employed by Olympic athletes striving for leanness is required. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18185032 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Optimization of body weight and composition is a key priority for elite athletes striving for a competitive advantage. The present investigation was designed to characterize various parameters related to weight control in Olympic competitors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research unit at a University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 223 athletes (125 men and 98 women, with only 1 drop-out), all members of the Swedish teams participating in the Olympic Games of 2002 and 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported body weight and height, from which BMI was calculated, variation in weight during the year prior to Olympic competition, and self-reported weight control strategies by questionnaire. The athletes were divided into two groups on the basis of whether their sporting discipline emphasized leanness or not. RESULTS: The athletes participating in disciplines that emphasize leanness demonstrated a lower mean BMI (22.7 +/- 2.7 vs 3.7 +/- 2.3 for nonlean athletes, P < 0.05), greater variation in weight (5.3% vs 4.7%, P < 0.05), more frequent attempts to lose weight (P < 0.001), longer total training time (P < 0.001), a higher training load yet weighed more than they desired at the time of competition. These differences were most evident in male athletes. Furthermore, 9.4% of lean athletes reported previously suffering from an eating disorder, in comparison to 2.7% of the nonlean athletes (P < 0.05). More athletes in disciplines emphasizing leanness also reported being ill during the prior 3 month period (38.5% vs 21.6%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation reveals that the weight control practices employed by Olympic athletes participating disciplines that emphasize leanness appear to be suboptimal. Counseling concerning weight control could be used as a tool to prevent illness and enhance performance. |
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Authors:
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Magnus Hagmar; Angelica Lindén Hirschberg; Lukas Berglund; Bo Berglund |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine Volume: 18 ISSN: 1050-642X ISO Abbreviation: Clin J Sport Med Publication Date: 2008 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-01-10 Completed Date: 2008-03-05 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9103300 Medline TA: Clin J Sport Med Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 5-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Departments of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. magnus.hagmar.752@student.ki.se |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Body Mass Index Cross-Sectional Studies Female Humans Male Overweight / prevention & control* Questionnaires Sports* Sweden Thinness* |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Clin J Sport Med. 2008 Jan;18(1):2-4
[PMID:
18185031
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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