GYMNASTS EATING HABITS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN GREECE

People's daily lives have been negatively affected by the unexpected emergence of Covid-19, with young children and teenagers being the most severely impacted. The implementation of stringent measures to control the epidemic has led to significant changes in children's physical characteristics and physical activities. This investigation therefore focused on the food intake and physical activity of children during their enforced home confinement due to the Covid-19 epidemic. The sample consisted of 105 non-competitive gymnasts aged 4 to 18 who completed two separate questionnaires: one covering the period before the Covid-19 pandemic-related home confinement and another covering the confinement itself. The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in Children and Adolescents was used to assess nutrition, while the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure leisure-time physical activity. The results showed that, while there was variation in the type and amount of physical activity, there was also a significant change in the children's diet due to differences in the quantity of various foods (vegetables, legumes, etc.). In conclusion, the pandemic altered gymnasts’ dietary habits and physical activity levels during Covid-19-induced confinement.