engleski

An assessment of knowledge about carbohydrate intake requirements in recreational runners

Today, physical activity is perceived as one of the main health factor, so the number of places for recreational physical activity, like running clubs, are opened. Many of new participants gradually enhance their physical activity, but they are not prepared to endure greater efforts. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the knowledge about carbohydrate intake, as limiting factor for long-term physical activity, among recreational athletes through a validated questionnaire which links knowledge with eating habits. This study involved 49 participants (61% men, 39% women) an average age of 35 years. Data on subjects and their knowledge of carbohydrate intake requirements was collected during European Sports Week in September 2017. Data analysis was performed using the Microsoft Office Excel 2010. The results indicate that most participants engage in recreational running for the sake of health (74% women, 87% men), followed by entertainment (74% women, 53% men) and in the end because of the competition (16% women, 27% men). Men and women started to running at the same time, and in one ween men run around 19.8 ± 2.1 km, and women around 18.7 ± 2.1 km. Although men and women have normal body mass index, women have significantly lower body height (p<0.01), body weight (p<0.01) and body mass index (p=0.01) than men. Among the participants, 17% of men and 57% of women follow special dietary patterns in which prevail LCHF and different forms of vegetarian diet. According to the results of the questionnaire women have higher (p=0.01) knowledge about carbohydrate intake requirements than men. However, globally speaking, none of them are familiar with the carbohydrate intake recommendations during running, which is linked to its inadequate intake. From the results it can be conclude that recreational runners are not familiar with their nutritional requirements and they do not have adequate nutritional intake. According to that they need to be educated in this area, because intense physical activity requires special nutrition to withstand it is all demands.

Recreation ; Running ; Carbohydrate

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