What is it about?
The body composition of a squash player may affect athletic performance as carrying excessive body fat may increase injury risk and impair agility and speed. This case study outlines the effect of a six-week nutritional intervention on body composition, vitamin D status and physical performance of a female squash player.
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Why is it important?
While modest weight loss might seem a simple goal for many athletes, achieving it within an integrated approach to performance nutrition can be a surprisingly difficult task that is best undertaken with expert counseling and support. This case history demonstrates some of challenges and issues that can be incorporated into a personalised nutrition program to assist an athlete to simultaneously address a range of nutrition goals while meeting their emotional and lifestyle needs related to food. The benefits of this approach include not only the desired manipulation of body composition development but also the achievement of an acute enhancement of physical performance and the development of long-term nutrition management strategy.
Perspectives
Although this case study is relatively straightforward in showing that a structured program that achieves an energy deficit produces weight/fat loss, it highlights the ‘non-technical’ element of a nutritionist work. This particular piece of work addressed a number of variables, barriers and human emotions that allowed the intervention to be effective. Careful consideration of the ‘non-technical’ tactics and strategic approach to the implementation of nutrition are a particular highlight and reveal some of the coaching skills required to be effective. In addition, the ability to measure the success of the nutrition plan against serum biomarkers and physical performance demonstrate a novel approach to routine body composition interventions. Where applicable, practitioners may endeavor to implement a similar approach to demonstrate the impact that their work can have on short-term behavioral change, physical output and long-term lifestyle improvements with the athletes in which they serve.
Christopher Rosimus
Football Association
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Case Study: The Effect of Nutritional Intervention on Body Composition and Physical Performance of a Female Squash Player, International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, June 2018, Human Kinetics,
DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0069.
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