Peripubertal perturbations in elite gymnasts caused by sport specific training regimes and inadequate nutritional intake.

Low body fat masses of elite female gymnasts are favoured for the current aesthetic appeal required for complex movements performed by the gymnasts. Optimal nutritional intake relative to physical training regimes is essential for pubertal development. Here we evaluate how high intensity training in combination with nutritional intake affects pubertal development.

Hypoleptinemia in female and male elite gymnasts.

Background: Elite gymnasts favour low body fat mass as the current aesthetic ideal required for complex movements in this sports discipline. Pubertal development and growth are retarded in juvenile gymnasts. Leptin, the protein product of the ob-gene, is secreted by fat cells.

Hypoleptinaemia in patients with anorexia nervosa and in elite gymnasts with anorexia athletica.

Leptin, the product of the ob-gene, is specifically released by adipocytes. In addition to its metabolic function it seems to affect the feedback-mechanisms of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-axis. We studied 13 female juvenile elite gymnasts with anorexia athletica (AA) and 9 female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) regarding the relation between leptin, fat stores, and the reproductive hormone levels.

[Nutritional behavior of female and male high performance gymnasts].

Elite gymnasts pass through their whole physical and intellectual development with intensive physical training. In this period malnutrition can lead to delayed pubertal development with insufficient growth spurt and an increased incidence of stress fractures or osteoporoses. Different aspects about nutrition like body composition, objective and subjective eating-behaviour and sex-specific differences will be evaluated in our study.

[Effect of high performance sports on puberty development of female and male gymnasts].

High impact training may influence the pubertal development of athletes. The effects of high intensity training on pubertal development of female and male elite gymnasts are presented. 22 female and 18 male elite gymnasts were enlisted in this study.