Seasonal Variations Of Physical And Blood Profiles, Nutrition And Eating Attitude In High School Rhythmic Gymnastic Athletes

Introduction
Many aesthetic athlete is suffering disordered eating, amenorrhea and osteoporosis, as lean body require for win. These
three criteria were defined as "Female Athlete Triad (FAT)" by American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) at 1993.
Then, we attempt to examine the seasonal changes in physical and blood profiles, nutrition and eating attitude in high
school rhythmic athlete at on- and off-season.

Methods
Subjects were ten high school rhythmic gymnastics athlete. Informed consent was obtained before research. Body
height, body mass and fat % were measured. Bone mineral density (BMD) was estimated from the transmission time
using ultrasound detected from calcaneus (AOS-100, Aloka Co. Ltd., Tokyo). BMD was expressed relative value to
matched age. Two types of eating attitude tests (EAT-26 for anorexia [1], BITE for bulimia [2]) were performed. Blood
sample was collected from median cubital vein in early morning before breakfast. Red blood cell (RBC), Hemoglobin
(Hb), plasma leptin and serum lipids were measured. Amount of energy intakes were mean values during three days.
Variables were measured at on- (August) and off-season (December).

Results
BMI, BMD and plasma leptin concentrations were significantly increased at post-season but body fat percentages did
not change. Their eating attitude was tendency of anorexia. Degree of abnormal eating attitude and amount of energy
intake were not significantly changed. Number of regular menstrual cycle was increased at post-season. On the contrast,
those of irregular menstrual cycle and amenorrhea were decreased.

Discussion/Conclusion
The changes in physical profiles indicated increases of muscle and bone mass. Hence, post-season is important period
of physical development. It was strange phenomenon that plasma leptin concentration was increased almost 50% with
unchanged body fat percentage. It was likely that regular menstrual cycle have need of muscle mass and leptin.

References
[1]. Garner DM & Garfinkel PE (1979). Psychological Medicine, 9, 273-279.
[2]. Henderson M & Freeman CPL (1987). Br. J. Psychiatry, 150, 18-24.

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