Monitoring Nutritional Status and Blood Pressure to Optimize the Health and Performance of Papuan Sko Athletes

Abstract

Young athletes at the Special Sports School (Sekolah Khusus Olahraga/SKO) in Papua are valuable assets who require specific attention to their health conditions. Nutritional status and blood pressure are fundamental health indicators that significantly impact athletic training performance and achievement, particularly concerning nutritional and hydration needs. However, regular monitoring of these two parameters has not yet been established as a routine program at SKO Papua. Methods: This community service activity was carried out in several stages: (1) anthropometric examinations (body weight, height, BMI) and blood pressure measurements of 23 athletes; (2) analysis and interpretation of nutritional status data based on CDC standards; (3) mentoring for coaches in monitoring the basic health conditions of athletes. Results: The results indicated that 68.18% of athletes had a normal nutritional status, 27.27% were overweight, and 4.55% were underweight. Furthermore, 13.64% of athletes had above-normal blood pressure, 13.64% had below-normal blood pressure, and 72.73% had normal blood pressure. Both athletes and coaches showed high enthusiasm for the mentoring materials on basic health monitoring. Conclusion: Regular monitoring of nutritional status and blood pressure is essential as an integral part of the athlete development program at SKO Papua. Sustained interventions, such as nutritional education and building the capacity of coaches in the early detection of health problems, can support the optimization of athlete performance and the achievement of maximal sporting success.