ANTHROPOMETRIC PROFILES OF YOUNG RHYTMIC GYMNASTIC ATHLESTES ACCORDING TO THEIR PARENTAL NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIOR

Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport that is supported by strength, speed and endurance with an emphasis on flexibility and coordination. It is assumed that low fat percentage, normal height, low body weight, and elegant and thin structure influence the performance of the athletes because it provides an aesthetically advantage in this sports branch. The aim of the study was to reveal the anthropometric properties in rhythmic gymnastics athletes, and to examine the changes and relationships of these parameters according to their parents' diet. A questionnaire with socio-demographic information, Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire, was used to gather data. The data on children's BMI, waist circumference and upper middle arm circumference were also included; these measurements were all taken by the same researcher. It was determined that the scores obtained from the parent feeding style scale differed according to the waist circumference of the child (p <0.05). It can be concluded that the scores obtained from the parent feeding style scale and its sub-dimensions of promoting to eat /encouraging feeding and instrumental feeding differ according to the child's upper middle arm circumference (p <0.05). As a result of the research, some sociodemographic and anthropometric features seem to affect the parents' feeding style of their children. The results obtained from this study can be used as a guide when creating forward-looking nutrition models for children engaged in rhythmic gymnastics, and planning the nutritional education for their parents.