Sport Nutrition for Child and Adolescent Athletes

Question 1

What are some key physiological differences in children?

Answer 1

• bone health/development
• children’s bones are more porous and cartilaginous than adults and not sealed yet
• cardiac stroke volume is lower and heart and respiratory rate , oxygen consumption and glycogen storage capacity are lower
• children as less efficient at aerobic metabolism than adults and they’re less able to draw upon glycogen stores to fuel endurance
• young athletes are not as efficient at movement and don’t adapt to training as efficiently as adults
• body mass is the same in boys and girls
• children are at increased risk for dehydration relative to adult athletes

Question 2

morphological growth

Answer 2

somatic development and progress towards adult stature

Question 3

sexual maturity

Answer 3

progress towards reproductive capability

Question 4

Why do children take ergogenic aids

Answer 4

• enhance performance
• improve performance
• imitate famous athletes