Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer players

Abstract Introduction Nutrition is vital in health and sports performance by improving anthropometric-related parameters and dietary habits, especially in the youngest ages. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been highly recognized for its positive health effects and low adverse environmental impact. O...

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Main Authors: César Leão, Sílvia Rocha-Rodrigues, Inês Machado, João Lemos, Sandra Leal, Hadi Nobari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-09-01
Series:BMC Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00761-6
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author César Leão
Sílvia Rocha-Rodrigues
Inês Machado
João Lemos
Sandra Leal
Hadi Nobari
author_facet César Leão
Sílvia Rocha-Rodrigues
Inês Machado
João Lemos
Sandra Leal
Hadi Nobari
author_sort César Leão
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Nutrition is vital in health and sports performance by improving anthropometric-related parameters and dietary habits, especially in the youngest ages. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been highly recognized for its positive health effects and low adverse environmental impact. Objectives We aimed to characterize adherence to the MD and analyze its association with anthropometric parameters in young soccer players. Methodology In the present study, 132 male young soccer players from under 9 to under 15 categories (aged 7 to 15 years) from a Portuguese football club participated. The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents (KIDMED) questionnaire was applied to assess adherence to the MD. Anthropometric-related parameters, including body mass, height, triceps skinfold thickness (TSKF), suprailiac skinfold thickness (SISKF), body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%BF), were determined. The differences between groups were performed accordingly to normal and non-normal distribution. Spearman’s correlations were performed to analyze the hypothetical correlation between KIDMED and BMI. Results Players reached an average KIDMED score of 8.36 ± 1.92, showing that 68.2% (n = 90) reached high adherence to the MD, 31.1% (n = 41) had moderate adherence to the MD, and 0.78% (n = 1) had poor adherence to the MD. When the analysis was made for age group and BMI classification, no significant differences were observed in adherence to the MD. Considering the main characteristics of the MD, 50.8% consumed fruit (vs. 49,2%), 52.3% consumed vegetables (vs. 47,7%), and only 20% consumed oleaginous dried fruits (vs. 80%). Dairy consumption throughout the day was 49,2% (vs. no: 50,8%). Conclusion Data from the present study showed that many soccer players adhered to the MD, and no differences were observed for age group or BMI classification.
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spelling doaj.art-5faa616efa8e4635af531995342485e92023-11-26T12:34:12ZengBMCBMC Nutrition2055-09282023-09-01911910.1186/s40795-023-00761-6Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer playersCésar Leão0Sílvia Rocha-Rodrigues1Inês Machado2João Lemos3Sandra Leal4Hadi Nobari5Escola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’ÁlvaresEscola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’ÁlvaresInstituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Rua Central de GandraEscola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’ÁlvaresInstituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Rua Central de GandraFaculty of Sports Science, University of ExtremaduraAbstract Introduction Nutrition is vital in health and sports performance by improving anthropometric-related parameters and dietary habits, especially in the youngest ages. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been highly recognized for its positive health effects and low adverse environmental impact. Objectives We aimed to characterize adherence to the MD and analyze its association with anthropometric parameters in young soccer players. Methodology In the present study, 132 male young soccer players from under 9 to under 15 categories (aged 7 to 15 years) from a Portuguese football club participated. The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescents (KIDMED) questionnaire was applied to assess adherence to the MD. Anthropometric-related parameters, including body mass, height, triceps skinfold thickness (TSKF), suprailiac skinfold thickness (SISKF), body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%BF), were determined. The differences between groups were performed accordingly to normal and non-normal distribution. Spearman’s correlations were performed to analyze the hypothetical correlation between KIDMED and BMI. Results Players reached an average KIDMED score of 8.36 ± 1.92, showing that 68.2% (n = 90) reached high adherence to the MD, 31.1% (n = 41) had moderate adherence to the MD, and 0.78% (n = 1) had poor adherence to the MD. When the analysis was made for age group and BMI classification, no significant differences were observed in adherence to the MD. Considering the main characteristics of the MD, 50.8% consumed fruit (vs. 49,2%), 52.3% consumed vegetables (vs. 47,7%), and only 20% consumed oleaginous dried fruits (vs. 80%). Dairy consumption throughout the day was 49,2% (vs. no: 50,8%). Conclusion Data from the present study showed that many soccer players adhered to the MD, and no differences were observed for age group or BMI classification.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00761-6AnthropometryYouthNutrition; MediterraneanTeam sports
spellingShingle César Leão
Sílvia Rocha-Rodrigues
Inês Machado
João Lemos
Sandra Leal
Hadi Nobari
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer players
BMC Nutrition
Anthropometry
Youth
Nutrition; Mediterranean
Team sports
title Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer players
title_full Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer players
title_fullStr Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer players
title_full_unstemmed Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer players
title_short Adherence to the Mediterranean diet in young male soccer players
title_sort adherence to the mediterranean diet in young male soccer players
topic Anthropometry
Youth
Nutrition; Mediterranean
Team sports
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00761-6
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