The Effect of Nutrition on Athletic Performance With a Focus on Rock Climbing

Abstract Rock climbing has steadily grown in popularity in recent years. In light of this recent growth, new climbers joining the sport and those who have been involved in the sport for years would benefit from knowing how nutrition affects their immediate or long term performance in the high-intensity sport. This review found that rock climbers engaged in intense training should aim to consume carbohydrates at 5-8 g/kg of body weight each day, while rock climbers who have a mild training regiment should consume carbohydrates at roughly 3-5 g/kg of body weight each day. Additionally, this review discovered that climbers should also aim to consume protein levels reaching up to 1.4-1.8 g/kg of body weight and fat levels of 30% of the climber’s total daily caloric intake. This review furthermore ascertained that an addition of glycerol as well as creatine in the climber’s diet is likely to serve ergogenic benefits in performance. Lastly, it is strongly recommended that rock climbers stay hydrated at all times.