Table 2.
Survey questions
| Question | Response options |
|---|---|
| What is your age? | • Under 18 years • 18–24 years • 25–34 years • 35–44 years • 45–54 years • 55–64 years • 65–75 years • Greater than 75 years |
| What is your gender? | • Woman • Man • Non-binary • Prefer not to say • Prefer to self-describe: |
| Do you live in Australia? | • Yes • No |
| What is your residential postcode? | (Free-text) |
| What range most closely represents your total annual household income? | • $0–$24 999 • $25 000–$49 999 • $50 000–$74 999 • $75 000–$99 999 • $100 000–$124 999 • $125 000–$149 999 • $150 000–$174 999 • $175 000 - $199 999 • $200 000 or greater • Prefer not to disclose |
| What sort of sport or exercise do you participate in on a regular basis? | • Team sport • Individual sport • Non-competitive exercise • Other |
| What level of sport do you participate in on a regular basis? | • Recreational • Local or regional competition • State competition • National competition • International competition • Other • N/A |
| What is the main sport that you play? If you do not play sport, what is the main type of exercise that you do? |
(Free-text) |
| How many hours do you spend exercising, training, or competing each week? | • 0–4 h • 5–9 h • 10–14 h • 15–19 h • 20 or more hours |
| Do you follow any special diets? Please select all that apply | • No special diet • Flexitarian • Vegetarian • Vegan • Low fat • Low carbohydrate • Ketogenic • Gluten free • Low FODMAP • Other |
| In the past 12 months, how often have you consumed each of the following sports foods? • Sports gels • Sports confectionery • Sports bars • Sports drinks • Electrolyte supplement • Isolated protein supplement • Mixed macronutrient supplement (liquid meals) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (powders) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (bars) |
• Never • Less than once per month • Once per month • A few times per month • Once per week • A few times per week • Daily |
| What is your reason for consuming (sports food)? • Sports gels • Sports confectionery • Sports bars • Sports drinks • Electrolyte supplement • Isolated protein supplement • Mixed macronutrient supplement (liquid meals) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (powders) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (bars) |
• I don’t consume (sports food) • Improved performance, endurance or muscle strength, recovery • Convenience in carrying during performance • Convenience in being ready to go • Reduced risk of food spoilage on the go • Reduced stomach cramps, nausea and/or diarrhoea • Reasonable price • Less risk of banned substances • Accommodate reduced/increased energy budgets or macronutrient targets • Taste • Other |
| What is your reason for NOT consuming (sports food)? Please select all that apply. • Sports gels • Sports confectionery • Sports bars • Sports drinks • Electrolyte supplement • Isolated protein supplement • Mixed macronutrient supplement (liquid meals) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (powders) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (bars) |
• N/A; I do consume (sports food) • Does not improve performance, endurance or muscle strength, recovery • Not convenient to carry during performance • Not convenient in being ready to go • Does not reduce risk of food spoilage on the go • Does not reduce stomach cramps, nausea and/or diarrhoea • Not a reasonable price • Risk of banned substances • Does not accommodate reduced/increased energy budgets or macronutrient targets • Taste • Other |
| If you have used everyday foods in place of sports foods, please provide details of what foods you have used. For example, instead of a sports bar, you might have used bread with jam or honey. • Sports gels • Sports confectionery • Sports bars • Sports drinks • Electrolyte supplement • Isolated protein supplement • Mixed macronutrient supplement (liquid meals) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (powders) • Mixed macronutrient supplement (bars) |
(Free-text) |
| When you have used everyday foods instead of sports foods, have you found: • Performance, endurance or muscle strength, recovery • Convenience in carrying during performance • Convenience in being ready to go • Risk of food spoilage on the go • Stomach cramps, nausea and/or diarrhoea • Price • Risk of banned substances • Taste |
• Much worse than sports foods • Somewhat worse than sports foods • About the same as sports foods • Somewhat better than sports foods • Much better than sports foods |
| Is your decision to consume sports foods (or not) influenced by: | • Advertising • Social media • Professional organisations • Peers • Friends or family • Coaches or high-performance staff • Doctors, physiotherapists or other health professionals • Personal trainers • Other |
| Sports foods are classified as ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods have been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and depression. Are you concerned about the health effects of consuming ultra-processed sports foods? Why or why not? |
• Yes • No (Free-text) |
| Are there any other comments you would like to make about sports foods or the questions in this survey? | (Free-text) |