This document discusses different diet considerations for endurance athletes versus power/strength athletes. For endurance athletes, it recommends increasing fat and carbohydrate intake. Fat is beneficial as a carrier for energy during low-intensity exercise, while carbohydrates need to be increased to meet the high energy demands. For power/strength athletes, it also suggests increasing carbohydrate and protein intake. Carbohydrates are the primary energy source, while extra protein is needed for muscle repair and growth from intense training. Both athlete types should focus on adequate vitamins and minerals to support their higher metabolism from training.

1. DIFFERENT DIETS FOR DIFFERENT
ATHLETES
Understand the different types of diets required for endurance and power athletes
Learning Outcomes:
A – Use knowledge learnt of different types of
diets to solve exam questions
B – Identify and Explain why the different
classes of food are used for the different diets
C – Identify the different classes of food that
are used for different athletes diets
Do Now Task – Attempt questions on nutrition

2. ANSWERS
1. Name the 6 classes of food (3 marks) – Carbohydrates, Protein,
Fat, Vitamins, Minerals, Fibre
2. What are the benefits of having fibre in a diet (2 marks) –
Prevents constipation, reduces blood cholesterol levels, control
blood glucose levels
3. Why do people involved in physical activity need to make sure
they eat foods with a sufficient amount of iron and calcium (4
marks) – Iron, formation of haemoglobin helps with transport of
oxygen, important for people whose sports require a lot of
cardiovascular endurance. Calcium, Main mineral in bones and
teeth required to keep bones strong as they are under more stress
when being physically active. Nerve and muscle function.
Important for muscular strength and endurance

3. INFORMATION
What would be the difference in the diets of a physical
active and inactive person of similar BMR’s?
In general a physically active person would need a
greater intake of food to cover the extra output of
energy they are using by being active.
The involvement and intensity of the activity will
greaten the need to take in sufficient food.
But is just eating more food enough?
Care must be taken in maintaining a balanced diet so
that performers receive all the vital nutrients they need
to perform well.

4. ENDURANCE ATHLETES
Endurance training makes a performer better at
metabolising fats.
Therefore fats need to be increased.
What are benefits of fats?
Double the energy to carbohydrates, Carrier for fat-soluble
vitamins, used at rest or low intensity
exercises – needs lots of oxygen to break it down
This means carbohydrates can be used for later on the
activity.
So what do we need to do to our carbohydrate intake?
Increase it to satisfy the energy demands of the
performer.

5. POWER/STRENGTH PERFORMER
Would a power performer also need to increase their
carbohydrate intake?
Yes because it is the bodies preferred source of energy
and can be used at all intensities of activity.
What other class of food would need to be increased in
their diet?
Protein
Why?
Because of the increase in muscle repair and growth
that accompanies their training

6. ANY PERFORMER
Would should any elite performer also increase in their
diet?
Vitamins and Minerals
Why?
Because athletes generally have a higher metabolism
than the average person because of their training load

7. TASKS
1. Complete the performer profiles with the necessary
information
2. Attempt exam questions.

8. ANSWERS
How should the diet required by a marathon runner
differ from an inactive person? (3 marks)
Higher intake of food due to increased metabolism
from training
Increased fat intake to use as energy
Increased carbohydrate intake to satisfy the energy
demands of the performer