Nutritional intake, sports nutrition knowledge and energy availability in recreational female football players

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the nutritional intake, sports nutrition knowledge and risk of low energy availability (LEA) and injury in recreational female football (soccer) players, a growing but understudied population. Players were recruited from Tier 4–5 clubs of the female domestic league in England (n = 54) aged 22.7 years ± 6.1, weight 64.7 kg ± 8.4, height 165.9 cm ± 5.7. Nutritional intake was quantified using 3-day food diaries, sports nutrition knowledge was assessed using the 88-item Sports Nutrition Knowledge Low Questionnaire (SNKQ) and the risk of LEA was assessed using the LEA in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q). LEA was identified in 55.6% of the players using the cut-off of 30 g/kg fat free mass. Mean energy intake (1730 kcal) was identified as significantly lower than energy intake targets (2195 kcal) (p < 0.001). The mean score for the SNKQ was 55.6% ± 10.6 with 29.6% identified as having poor nutritional knowledge. Nutritional knowledge had a weak positive correlation with energy intake (r = 0.305) and energy availability (r = 0.268). LEAF-Q identified 42.6% of the players as at risk of LEA and therefore injury. The results suggest that recreational female football players may be at risk of developing LEA and injury.