Introduction
It is universally accepted that prudent nutrient intake and desirable eating behaviour improve physical performance and/or maintain physical condition in athletes. Many reports suggest that some adolescents have not established a well-balanced diet, such as low fruit and vegetable intake, frequent consumption of high-fat snacks, skipping breakfast, and other poor nutritional choices. Therefore, in this study, we examine the relationship between undesirable eating habits and health-related complaints of elite high school track and field athletes.
Methods
Seven hundred and twenty two elite high school track and field athletes, who had got a place in Inter-high school Championship during 2004 to 2012 have completed self-administered questionnaire. Athletic events were divided into 7 categories; sprints, middle/long distances, jumps, throws, hurdles, combined events, and race walks. Questionnaire was consisted of scales for measuring two constructs of undesirable eating habits (junk foods and high fat foods) and health-related complaints. Comparison of the total score of each variable was carried out using 2-way ANOVA. The relationship between each total score was analysed using pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient. Differences were considered significant at p<0.05.
Results
Analysis with 2-way ANOVA showed all the variables measured had significant differences in the main annual effect, but showed significant differences in 2-way interactions. The score of junk foods, represent one of undesirable eating habits of throwers was higher than that of middle/long distance runners. Another score of high fat foods of throwers was higher than that of sprinters, middle/long distance runners and race walkers. On the other hand, the score of health-related complaints of middle/long distance runners was higher compared to that of race walkers. There was significant correlation between the score of high fat foods and the score of health-related complaints regardless of categories. Only in sprinters and jumpers, the scores of junk foods correlated with the scores of health-related complaints.
Discussion
These results suggested that undesirable eating habits affect the health-related complaints of elite high school track and field athletes. Especially habitual eating of high fat foods might impair their physical condition. Middle/long distance runners were intent not to be undesirable eating, but they felt physical complaints, so they might be overtrained. Further study would be needed to elucidate the relationship between dietary behaviour and physical condition to prevent the occurrence of sports injury.
