CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN RESPONSE TO A HIGH PROTEIN DIET
Open Access
Author:
Woll, Abbigail Kathleen
Area of Honors:
Kinesiology
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Jinger S. Gottschall, Thesis Supervisor Jinger S. Gottschall, Thesis Honors Advisor Steriani Elavsky, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
protein carbohydrate intake diet exercise
Abstract:
Physical performance and body composition are highly influenced by the diet that individuals consume. The distribution of macronutrient intake an active individual chooses to use as fuel for physical performance, highly depends on the type of exercise. Purpose: To investigate the influence of a high protein diet and a high carbohydrate diet on physical performance, changes in body composition, and psychological status. Subjects (n=24, 21-66 years old) were assigned two diets, each diet lasting three weeks, with a week-long washout between the two diets. The first diet was assigned based off of an assessment of each participant’s normal, everyday diet the second diet was the diet that was not consumed the first three weeks. Throughout the diets, subjects were required to attend 5 hours of exercise classes each week, and maintain that same schedule for the entirety of the 7 week study. Results: The protein diet showed an increase in leg strength and push up number and a decrease in diastolic blood pressure as well as highest rating of personal improvement in exercise classes. The high carbohydrate diet had stronger results psychologically with greater rankings in satisfaction with exercise instructor, satisfaction with life, good mental health and pain and stiffness after workouts.
