Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Its Influence on Anthropometric and Fitness Variables in High-Level Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

The objectives of the present research were to analyze adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMD), to observe which variables most affect AMD, and to analyze whether AMD affects physical fitness and anthropometric parameters in high-level adolescent athletes. A total of 96 adolescent athletes in the under-16, under-18, and under-20 categories selected by the Athletics Federation of the Region of Murcia, of whom 47 were male (age = 18.31 ± 2.31 years old) and 49 female (age = 17.27 ± 1.44 years old), participated in this study. They completed the KIDMED questionnaire to discover their AMD, as well as an anthropometric and physical condition assessment. Results: The findings show that 61.45% had an excellent degree of AMD, 31.25% a moderate one, and 7.30% a poor one. The parameters that most conditioned AMD were the consumption of fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, breakfast cereals, and dairy products (p = 0.011–0.000). AMD did not show significant differences in anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness (p = 0.057–0.996). Conclusions: The majority of high-level adolescent athletes have a moderate or excellent AMD. The degree of AMD seems to have no influence on physical fitness and anthropometric parameters in this population.

Are physical activity and/or adherence to the Mediterranean diet determinants of the changes found in kinanthropometric variables, body composition and physical fitness in adolescents?

“…Regarding the differences in active adolescents with different levels of AMD, the results showed no significant differences in any of the study variables when comparing active adolescents with different levels of AMD. These results are in line with previous research in active adolescents in which AMD was not a determinant of the changes observed in kinanthropometric, body composition and fitness variables [ 58 , 66 ]. This could be due to the fact that in active adolescents diet is not as relevant to generate adaptations in anthropometric variables, body composition or physical condition because they compensate for possible deficits with regular physical activity [ 58 , 66 ].…”

“…These results are in line with previous research in active adolescents in which AMD was not a determinant of the changes observed in kinanthropometric, body composition and fitness variables [ 58 , 66 ]. This could be due to the fact that in active adolescents diet is not as relevant to generate adaptations in anthropometric variables, body composition or physical condition because they compensate for possible deficits with regular physical activity [ 58 , 66 ]. Therefore, AMD could play a relevant role, but always accompanied by other physical activity or fitness variables.…”