Dissertation
Factors influencing the food choices of high-performance athletes
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00133
Abstract
The type and timing of foods and beverages can play a vital role in supporting an athlete’s physiological adaption to exercise and competitive potential. For high-performance athletes, the significance that nutrition contributes to performance is a unique influence on their food choices compared to the general population. Despite awareness of this, athletes may not be making choices that are beneficial for their performance or long-term health. A multitude of conscious and subconscious factors influence choices, yet no validated tool is available for understanding the relative influence multiple factors have on an athlete’s food selection. Therefore, this thesis aimed to develop and validate an Athlete Food Choice Questionnaire (AFCQ). The project comprises four key focuses to provide a transparent account of the AFCQ’s development, validity, reliability and initial research application with each focus reported in a distinct study. Research participants were athletes from diverse sports and countries recruited from the 2017 Universiade, 2018 Commonwealth Games and an online sample.
Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified and validated the latent constructs (factors) of food choice from an initial questionnaire item pool. The resulting final AFCQ contained 32 question items organised within the following nine factors; ‘nutritional attributes of the food’, ‘emotional influences’, ‘food and health awareness’, ‘influence of others’, ‘usual eating practices’, ‘weight control’, ‘food values and beliefs’, ‘sensory appeal’ and ‘performance’. Accompanying the published AFCQ are 13 optional single-item factors for investigating simple constructs such as hunger, convenience and gut discomfort. Multiple measures examined the reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity of the nine AFCQ factors. Where relevant, modification of the AFCQ is discussed with relevance to potential research and practical applications. Finally, descriptive analysis from implementing the AFCQ has contributed to knowledge on the relative influence among factors and differences between athlete groups.
Overall, the AFCQ is a valid and reliable tool. The research outcomes present a foundation of evidence supporting the use of the novel AFCQ to understand athlete food choices. Of practical significance, the AFCQ can give context to nutrition knowledge and diet quality data assisting nutrition professionals in tailoring interventions for individuals or teams of athletes.
Details
- Title
- Factors influencing the food choices of high-performance athletes
- Authors
- Rachael Thurecht - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Contributors
- Fiona Pelly (Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00133
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99619708502621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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