Abstract
Previous research indicates that dietary habits may differ between athletes of different sports. In this cross-sectional study, we hypothesize meal frequency, food choices, and food preferences will significantly differ between contact types. The participants were athletes (n = 92; men: n = 57, body fat percent (BF%): 14.8 ± 8.4%, body mass index (BMI): 25.5 ± 5.5 kg·m−2; women: n = 36, BF%: 26.7 ± 7.3%, BMI: 22.3 ± 2.7 kg·m−2) from high-contact (HCS), low-contact (LCS), and non-contact (NCS) sports. Meal frequency, food preference, and food choice questionnaires assessed factors influencing dietary habits. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured lean body mass, fat mass, and body fat. A GLM multivariate analysis was used with significance accepted at p < 0.05. Significant body composition differences were observed between genders (p < 0.001) and among sports (p < 0.001). Dinner (83.7%), lunch (67.4%), and breakfast (55.4%) were the most frequently eaten meals, followed by evening snack (17.8%), afternoon snack (15.2%), and morning snack (8.7%). Greater preferences for starches were observed for HCS (p = 0.04; η2 = 0.07) and for a greater preference for vegetables was found for NCS (p = 0.02; η2 = 0.09). Significant differences also existed in the importance of health (p = 0.04; η2 = 0.07), weight control (p = 0.05; η2 = 0.11), natural content (p = 0.04; η2 = 0.07), and price (p = 0.04; η2 = 0.07). These results support our hypothesis that food choices and food preferences differ between contact types. This may help sports dieticians create more individualized nutrition programs.
Highlights
The American College of Sports Medicine, the American Dietetic Association, and the Dietitians of Canada agree that sport performance benefits should occur from following nutritional guidelines [1]
Gender and contact sport differences (p < 0.05) were observed for anthropometric characteristics; no significant differences were found between gender for the food preference (p = 0.81), choice (p > 0.05), with the exception of dairy (p = 0.04), or meal pattern questionnaires (p > 0.05)
Males and females of the same sport and contact type were combined for Food Preference Questionnaire (FPQ), food choices questionnaires (FCQ), and Meal Pattern Questionnaire (MPQ) analysis
Summary
The American College of Sports Medicine, the American Dietetic Association, and the Dietitians of Canada agree that sport performance benefits should occur from following nutritional guidelines [1]. A majority of college athletes do not follow a diet optimal for sport performance [2] several studies have demonstrated that even high-level athletes often underestimate their daily needs [3,4]. Research is needed to provide coaches and dieticians with the right tools to provide clear and correct guidelines to athletes. Personal food systems have been studied in different types of categories of athletes. A study recording a 7-day food diary of the Australian Olympic teams found differences in endurance, team, sprint and skill-based, and weight-conscious sports [7]. Though research currently exists on the dietary food choices, preferences, and meal choices of certain sports, a gap exists in the literature in the comparison of food choices and preferences by contact level
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