Hydration, Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Age and Weight-Restricted Youth American Football Players.

Susan Yeargin,John Dickinson,Dawn Emerson,Toni M Torres-Mcgehee,Jessica Koller

doi:10.3390/nu13082565

Abstract

There is a paucity of research examining hydration and nutrition behaviors in youth American football players. A potentially unique risk factor are league restrictions based on weight (WR) or age (AR). The purpose of this study was to examine hydration status between WR and AR leagues. The secondary purpose was to describe eating patterns in players. An observational cohort design with 63 youth football players (10 ± 1 yrs, 148.2 ± 9.4 cm, 44.9 ± 15.3 kg) was utilized. Independent variables were league (AR (n = 36); WR (n = 27)) and activity type (practice (PX = 8); game (GM = 3)). Dependent variables were hydration status (urine osmolality; percent change in body mass (%BM)), eating attitudes (Children’s Eating Attitude Test (ChEAT-26)) and self-reported frequency of meals. On average, players arrived activity mildly hypohydrated (830 ± 296 mOsm/kg) and %BM was minimal (−0.1 ± 0.7%) during events. Players consumed 2 ± 1 meals and 1 ± 1 snack before events. The ChEAT-26 survey reported 21.6% (n = 8) of players were at risk for abnormal eating attitudes. Among these players, eating binges, vomiting, excessive exercise and drastic weight loss were reported. Youth American football players arrived activity mildly hypohydrated and consumed enough fluid during activity to maintain euhydration. Abnormal eating attitudes and the use of unhealthy weight loss methods were reported by some youth American football players.

Highlights

Published: 27 July 2021Pop Warner is the largest youth American football organization in the world and greater than 250,000 children participate per season
A total of 63 youth football players participated in the study
Limited data were available for ChEAT-26 (n = 37), whereas 63 participants completed the remaining measures but data were missing at some time points

Summary

Introduction

Published: 27 July 2021Pop Warner is the largest youth American football organization in the world and greater than 250,000 children participate per season. Pop Warner football, in an attempt to make the sport safer, sometimes divide their players by age and weight [1]. To ensure these rules are followed, players weigh-in at the beginning of the season and before each game to confirm they are not over the weight limit for that specific team [1]. If they weigh-in at a different weight, the child may not be allowed to play that day or eventually have to change teams. If there is a larger child on a team (usually greater than 36.3 kg), playing restrictions are typically enforced for that child to ensure safety and encourage fair play

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