Anthropometric, metabolic and hemodynamic profiles of teenagers’ athletes (14-19 years old)

Abstract

The inadequate diet habits are more prevalent in the modern society and are responsible to increasing cardiovascular risks forall, including young athletes. To investigate the anthropometric, metabolic and hemodynamic profiles of athletes(14-19 years) of both genders. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, skinfolds and circumferences), blood tests (total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides and glucose) and hemodynamic evaluations (blood pressure and heart rate) were realized. A number of 271 youth athletes (69% men) were volunteers. Of the total sample, 27.4% had BMI outside the expected range, being 07 underweight, 50 overweight and 17 obese. In carbohydrate metabolism only 01 showed a significant change. In lipid metabolism, 64.6% had total cholesterol outside the expected range, being 79 borderline and 96 high to age. Furthermore, 35.4% had high LDL, 21.4% had low HDL, and 9.6% had high triglycerides. In hemodynamic profile, 18.2% had abnormal blood pressure. All these changes were greater in males. This study helped to demonstrate that young athletes with anthropometric changes are also susceptible to hemodynamic and metabolic changes, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The high prevalence of anthropometric, metabolic and hemodynamic is cause for concern and highlights the need for a more severe dietary guidance to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in this population.