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athletes' medical information - Coca-Cola

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athletes’ <strong>medical</strong> <strong>information</strong><br />

The physiology of children and adolescents<br />

differs from that of adults in several ways. The<br />

mechanisms of thermoregulation are less<br />

effective in children, and special attention must<br />

be paid to the environment, activity patterns,<br />

clothing and hydration to avoid problems of<br />

hyperthermia or hypothermia.<br />

The growth spurts during childhood and<br />

adolescents require nutritional support in terms<br />

of adequate intake of energy, protein and<br />

minerals. Active young people may find it<br />

difficult to meet their needs for energy and<br />

nutrients when the costs of training and growth<br />

are added. Young people may not have<br />

developed the nutritional knowledge and time<br />

management skills to fit in all the eating<br />

occasions required to achieve high-energy,<br />

nutrient-rich eating.<br />

Although the rate of obesity in children is<br />

still rising, active youngsters and young athletes<br />

still need a plentiful supply of energy from<br />

foods, including nutritious snacks between<br />

meals and energy-containing drinks. A snack<br />

before afterschool or afternoon activities will be<br />

valuable in providing extra fuel for the session<br />

as well as an energy boost during the long<br />

period between lunch and dinner.<br />

Young athletes have been shown to drink<br />

more of a flavoured drink than water during<br />

activity, which may be an important consideration<br />

for promoting fluid intake, especially if exercise is<br />

in the heat. They may also be involved in sports<br />

in which there are benefits to consuming<br />

carbohydrate during exercise to supply additional<br />

muscle fuel. Therefore, there may be legitimate<br />

benefits to making sports drinks available to<br />

young athletes. After exercise, recovery is<br />

promoted by speedy intake of protein,<br />

carbohydrate and fluids. Snacks consumed<br />

before and after the workout may need to be<br />

eaten in the car or while travelling between<br />

activities. However, there are many portable<br />

nutrient-rich choices that can be consumed “on<br />

the run,” including sandwiches, cereal and milk,<br />

flavoured milk drinks, yoghurt and other dairy<br />

foods, fruit and dried fruit/nut mixes. It is not<br />

always easy to find appropriate choices at<br />

sporting venues, so it is wise to plan ahead. Many<br />

children and adolescents are not aware of their<br />

hunger until they become fatigued or suddenly<br />

ravenous, so it is good to educate them about<br />

being organised and preparing ahead of time.<br />

Many young athletes are eager to increase the<br />

rate of their growth and muscular development<br />

in pursuit of the physique of an adult. While<br />

growth and maturation are genetically<br />

determined, high-energy eating plans can assist<br />

the young athlete to maximise the outcomes of<br />

growth and specialised training programs.<br />

Young athletes eating a wide range of foods<br />

should not need to use dietary supplements,<br />

including the use of energy drinks which<br />

contain high amounts of caffeine and are not<br />

suitable for young athletes. Athletes and<br />

coaches should be aware that supplements do<br />

not provide a shortcut to success.<br />

39<br />

12-113-COC_Paralymics_Booklet_20120718.indd 39<br />

7/18/12 4:29 PM

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