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New Epidemic of Malnutrition in Young Slovenian Athletes Cover

New Epidemic of Malnutrition in Young Slovenian Athletes

Open Access
|Jun 2023

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Distribution of number of RED-S-related health disorders and performance problems.
Distribution of number of RED-S-related health disorders and performance problems.

Figure 2.

Distribution of number of RED-S-related health disorders.
Distribution of number of RED-S-related health disorders.

Figure 3.

Distribution of number of RED-S-related performance problems.
Distribution of number of RED-S-related performance problems.

Anthropometric characteristics and disease states of athletes_

Middle adolescents (14–17 years)Late adolescents (18–21 years)

FemaleMaleFemaleMale
Average height [cm]167.8±5.6176.4±12.6168.6±5.9179.1±7.1
Average body mass [kg]57.5±1065.8±1358.1±8.374.3±8.7
Average BMI [kg/cm2]20.4±2.720.9±2.120.4±2.522.9±2.6
Body fat [%]20.7±4.712.8±5.717.3±3.59.6±3.5
FFMI [kg/cm2]16.1±1.818.1±1.716.5±1.120.4±2.4
Chronic illness [number of athletes]Asthma (5), Chronic gastritis (4), Hashimoto thyroiditis (2), Atopic dermatitis (1)Asthma (5)Chronic gastritis (2)Gastro oesophageal reflux disease (1), Arterial hypertension (1), Atopic dermatitis (1)
Hours training per week [h]16.9±0.619.2±1.0
Type of sport [number of athletes]Anaerobic: acrobatics (1), skiing (1), sprint (4), gymnastics (1), wild water kayak (1), climbing (1)Aerobic: long distance running (4), biathlon (3), road cycling (1), mountain biking (1), mountain running (2), rowing (6), cross country skiing (3), triathlon (2)Aerobic-anaerobic: heptathlon (1), middle distance running (4), badminton (1), hockey (3), basketball (2), football (14), Nordic combine (1), short and middle-distance swimming (20), dance (1), handball (1), figure skating (1), tennis (4)Anaerobic: skiing (1), snowboarding (1), triple jump (1) sprint (2), wild water kayak (4), climbing (2), ski jumping (4)Aerobic: long distance running (1), biathlon (4), rowing (2), cross country skiing (3), triathlon (1)Aerobic-anaerobic: heptathlon (1), Nordic combine (1), volleyball (1), short and middle-distance swimming (3), handball (1), tennis (1)

Number of RED-S-related health disorders and performance problems in nutrition-related risk factors_ Rows in the first column are the potential nutrition-related risk factors, and the numbers in the following columns are the numbers of RED-s related (with standard deviation) in athletes that have the particular nutritional risk (YES column) or don’t have this risk (NO column)_

Comparison by genderComparison by age group

AllFemaleMaleMiddle Adolescents (14–17 year)Late Adolescents (18–21 year)

YesNop-valueYesNop-valueYesNop-valueYesNop-valueYesNop-value
CHO< 3g/kg body mass4.2±1.93.3±2.00.054.9±2.04.2±2.00.203.0±0.82.6±1.60.324.6±1.83.5±1.90.022.2±1.03.0±2.00.50
CHO<6g/kg body mass3.6±2.03.2±1.90.324.4±2.03.9±2.10.432.6±1.32.8±1.80.514.0±2.03.1±1.70.092.8±1.73.2±2.50.70
Dietary fibre intake>35 g4.0±2.13.5±1.90.404.5±2.24.3±2.00.762.7±1.52.6±1.50.904.6±1.83.7±1.90.172.3±2.33.0±1.90.58
LEA3.5±2.03.7±1.80.454.4±2.14.0±1.90.482.4±1.33.5±1.70.033.9±2.03.5±1.70.562.6±1.85.0±1.80.03
Desire to lose body weight4.6±1.83.3±1.90.0025.8±1.44.0±2.00.0063.5±1.42.4±1.40.025.2±1.82.4±1.40.0033.8±1.72.7±1.90.13
Lost weight in past year4.6±1.83.3±1.90.0025.8±1.44.0±2.00.0063.5 ± 1.42.4±1.40.025.2±1.82.4±1.40.0033.8±1.72.7±1.90.13
Meal 2–3h before training3.5±2.05.5±0.70.094.3±2.05.5±0.70.262.6 ± 1.5//2.8±1.95.00.193.7±1.96.00.25
Meal 1h before training3.3±1.94.5±1.90.014.2±2.04.8±2.10.182.5 ± 1.53.7±1.30.033.5±1.94.9±1.70.0052.9±1.92.8±1.90.96
Meal after training3.4±2.04.5±0.90.054.3±2.14.5±0.60.842.5 ± 1.44.5±1.30.013.7±2.04.6±1.00.102.9±1.94.00.54
Have suitable meal before, during and after training3.4±1.83.6±2.00.814.2±1.64.4±2.20.632.3± 1.52.7±1.50.403.5±2.03.8±1.90.463.2±1.42.8±2.10.47
Takes dietary supplements3.6±2.03.3±1.90.484.5±2.14.0±1.90.382.6 ± 1.32.7±1.80.973.9±2.03.5±1.90.453.0±1.82.8±2.20.68

Prevalence of RED-S-related health disorder_

RED-S-related health disordersMiddle adolescents (14–17 years)Late adolescents (18–21 years)

FemaleMaleFemaleMale

YNPrev.YNPrev.YNPrev.YNPrev.
Reproductive system
Primary amenorrhea (F)3436.5% 0150%
Secondary amenorrhea (F)133328.2% 51035.7%
Other disorders (F)182839.1% 51033.3%
Low testosterone (M) 1372.6% 0190%
Immunological system
Several viral infections222447.8%152339.5%51033.3%41521.1%
Lymphopenia1283.4%1185.2%1109.1%0120%
Leukopenia32610.3%1195%21016.7%1118.3%
Skeletal system
Stress fractures3436.5%0380%0150%0190%
Osteoporosis/Osteopenia3436.5%0380%0150%0190%
Endocrine system
T3<3.1 pmol/l070%030%020%010%
T4<12 pmol/l070%1233.3%1150%10100%
Glucose<4 mmol/l1185.2%0160%1712.5%1109.1%
TSH < 0.5 mU/l090%050%020%010%
TSH>4.3 mU/l2722.2%050%020%010%
Haematological system
Ferritin<30 µg/l72125%31615.8%2722.2%1118.3%
Iron<10µmol/l2247.7%21511.7%1910%0120%
Haemoglobin < 120 g/l0300%0200%0120%0120%
Psychological disorders
Eating disorders73915.2%1372.6%31220%0190%
Disordered eating301665.2%122144.7%7846.7%71236.8%
Psychological problems291763.0%82921.6%6940%1185.3%
Cardiovascular system
Cholesterol<4 mmol/l71433.3%8947.1%3350%3827.3%
Cholesterol >5.2 mmol/l1204.8%0170%2433.3%2918.2%
HDL-cholesterol<1.45 mmol/l2625%3633.3%1233.3%020%
LDL-cholesterol>2.59 mmol/l3537.5%4640%1233.3%1150%
Triglycerides>2.62 mmol/l080%080%030%020%
Gastrointestinal system
Gastrointestinal disorders133328.2%0380%31220%31615.8%
Digestion disorders (gastritis, constipation, diarrhoea, gastroesophageal reflux)4428.7%0380%1146.7%1185.3%
Growth and development disorders
Growth disorders4428.7%63215.8%1146.7%0190%

RED-S-related performance problems

Problems in training process
Tiredness351176.1%241463.2%12380%13668.4%
Muscle cramps83817.4%132534.2%1146.7%81142.1%
Other problems (Concentration, coordination, strength…)331371.7%211755%10566.7%12763.2%
Other problems
Recurring injury133328.2%3357.9%1146.7%51426.3%
Maintaining focus182839.1%53313.2%21313.3%0190%
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2023-0017 | Journal eISSN: 1854-2476 | Journal ISSN: 0351-0026
Language: English
Page range: 121 - 128
Submitted on: Nov 20, 2022
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Accepted on: Mar 29, 2023
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Published on: Jun 13, 2023
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2023 Eva Peklaj, Nina Reščič, Barbara Koroušić Seljak, Nada Rotovnik Kozjek, published by National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.