A Review of Factors Influencing Athletes’ Food Choices

Karen Birkenhead; Gary J Slater

doi:10.1007/s40279-015-0372-1

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A Review of Factors Influencing Athletes’ Food Choices

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A Review of Factors Influencing Athletes’ Food Choices

Karen Birkenhead and Gary J Slater

Sports Medicine, Vol.45(11), pp.1511-1522

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0372-1

PMID: 26243016

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Abstract

food choice

athletes

nutrition strategy

training programme

eating behaviours

dietary intake

Athletes make food choices on a daily basis that can affect both health and performance. A well planned nutrition strategy that includes the careful timing and selection of appropriate foods and fluids helps to maximize training adaptations and, thus, should be an integral part of the athlete's training programme. Factors that motivate food selection include taste, convenience, nutrition knowledge and beliefs. Food choice is also influenced by physiological, social, psychological and economic factors and varies both within and between individuals and populations. This review highlights the multidimensional nature of food choice and the depth of previous research investigating eating behaviours. Despite numerous studies with general populations, little exploration has been carried out with athletes, yet the energy demands of sport typically require individuals to make more frequent and/or appropriate food choices. While factors that are important to general populations also apply to athletes, it seems likely, given the competitive demands of sport, that performance would be an important factor influencing food choice. It is unclear if athletes place the same degree of importance on these factors or how food choice is influenced by involvement in sport. There is a clear need for further research exploring the food choice motives of athletes, preferably in conjunction with research investigating dietary intake to establish if intent translates into practice.

Details

Title: A Review of Factors Influencing Athletes’ Food Choices
Authors: Karen Birkenhead (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Gary J Slater (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Sports Medicine, Vol.45(11), pp.1511-1522
Publisher: Adis International Ltd.
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-015-0372-1
ISSN: 0112-1642
PMID: 26243016
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449929402621
Output Type: Journal article

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