| Keywords |
Rhythmic gymnasts ; Weight loss ; Percent body fat |
| Abstract |
Rhythmic gymnasts performing at high exercise intensity are exposed to particularly intense weight loss. The deleterious effect of this factor could a serious problem on skeletal maturation and pubertal development in elite female rhythmic gymnasts. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of weight loss on health-related fitness and hemodynamic responses. Ten elite female rhythmic gymnasts were recruited in this study. All subjects completed diet program under the supervision of a dietician for 10 days. Percent body fat, blood lipids, VO2max, and cardiovascular responses were measured before and after diet program. With weight loss program, although there were no differences in total cholesterol, VO2max, the percent body fat and lean body fat were significantly decreased. Additionally, cardiac output, stroke volume were significantly reduced, while peripheral resistance was significantly increased. There were no differences in systolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure. This study suggests that excessive weight loss for short period must be cautious in elite female rhymic gymnasts, since loss of skeletal muscle mass and diminished cardiac functions may decrease exercise performance. |