Taekwondocuların Vücut Kompozisyonu, Enerji Mevcudiyeti ve Besin Tüketiminin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the body composition (BC), energy balance (EB), energy availability (EA), and macronutrient intake of elite male and female taekwondo athletes. The study included 32 taekwondo athletes (16 males and 16 females) aged between 18-35 years. Resting metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry and BC was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Daily energy intake (EI) and expenditure (EE), EB, EA, and macronutrient intakes were determined from 3-day food intake and physical activity records, respectively. T-test for Independent Samples was used to compare the male and female taekwondo athletes. Dependent Samples t-test was used to compare the EA values calculated by the two different methods for each gender. Total body fat percentage was lower in elite male athletes (18.05% ± 6.38) compared to females (29.45% ± 5.01) (p<0.05). Fat free mass (FFM) was higher in males (63.80 ± 8.56 kg) than in females (41.98 ± 5.43 kg) (p<0.05). The EI for males and females was 2320.6 ± 742.6 kcal/day and 1600.2 ± 727.3 kcal/day, respectively (p<0.05), and the EE was 3807.9 ± 642.0 kcal/day and 2794.8 ± 604.8 kcal/day, respectively (p<0.05). Similar levels of negative EB were observed in males and females (p>0.05). For both traditional and advanced methods of EA determination, male and female taekwondo athletes had similar levels of low EA (traditional; male: 20.47 ± 12.71 kcal/kg FFM, female: 19.82 ± 18.11 kcal/kg FFM; advanced; male: 9.84 ± 11.47 kcal/kg FFM, female: 7.41 ± 16.28 kcal/kg FFM) (p > 0.05). The carbohydrate intake of male (3.55 ± 1.53 g/kg body weight (BW)/day) and female (2.75 ± 1.88 g/kg BW/day) taekwondo athletes was similar (p>0.05). No significant difference in protein intake was found between male (1.19 ± 0.47 g/kg BW/day) and female (1.19 ± 0.51 g/kg BW/day) athletes (p>0.05). In conclusion, elite taekwondo athletes have low EA and consume energy below recommended levels. Therefore, monitoring individual body composition, macronutrient intake, energy balance, and energy availability is crucial for optimal athletic performance.