Table 1.
Characteristics and major findings of the studies analyzing the effect of nutrition education interventions on eating habits in team sport athletes.
| Authors | Year | Sample Size (n) |
Age (M ± SD Years) |
Country | Sport | Competition Level | Tool | Intervention (Modality, Frequency and Duration) | Major Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abood et al. [25] | 2004 | NEI (15 females) CG (15 females) |
NEI (19.6 ± 1.0) CG (19.4 ± 1.2) |
United States | NEI Soccer CG Swimming |
College division I | 3-day food record | Nutrition education intervention NEI (online, 8 sessions of 1 h, 8 weeks) CG (no treatment) |
NEI athletes experienced a significant increase in self-efficacy compared to CG. CG recorded a decrease in carbohydrate intake (percentage of total calories) and fiber. There was a significant overall difference in the number of positive dietary changes favoring the NEI. |
| Anderson et al. [29] | 2010 | Feedback (8 females) Baseline (8 females) |
Feedback (20.1 ± 0.5) Baseline (19.3 ± 0.5) |
United States | Volleyball | NCAA division II | 3-day food record | Feedback regarding dietary intake Feedback (F2F at beginning, peak during, and following each season for two full seasons). Baseline (no treatment) |
No changes in total carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake between baseline and feedback across the two seasons; however, greater protein intake was recorded after feedback at beginning of the season. |
| Daniel et al. [40] | 2016 | 10 females | 17.2 ± 0.9 | Brazil | Volleyball | Junior | Quesitonnaire of Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa | Interdisciplinary Food, Nutrition and Health Education Program (F2F, 8 sessions, 8 months) |
Athletes made dietary changes during the year increasing their daily intake of fruits and vegetables and decreasing high-energy, low-nutrient food intake. |
| Elias et al. [26] | 2018 | NEI (52 males) CG (53 males) |
NEI (18.7 ± 0.9) CG (23.3 ± 3.8) |
Malaysia | NEI Field hockey and soccer CG Cricket and rugby union |
National | KAP questionnaire | Sport education intervention activities NEI (F2F and online, 7 × 1.5-h sessions, 9 weeks) CG (no treatment) |
NEI athletes showed higher mean total energy intake than CG following the education intervention. NEI showed greater increases in total carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake than CG following the education intervention. |
| Molina-López et al. [30] | 2013 | 14 males | 22.9 ± 2.7 | Spain | Handball | Professional | 3-day food record | Nutrition education program (F2F, 3 phases, 5 months) |
Significant increase in total energy and macronutrient intakes following the intervention. |
| Patton-Lopez et al. [23] | 2018 | NEI (153 males and females) CG (64 males and females) |
NEI (14.9 ± 0.9) CG (14.9 ± 0.9) |
United States | Soccer | High school | SNK questionnaire | WAVE education program NEI (F2F, 7 sport nutrition lessons and 3 team-building workshops, 1–1.5 h, 2 years) CG (no treatment) |
NEI were three times more likely to report trying to eat for performance. Consumption of lunch (≥ 5-days per week) did not change in NEI, but significantly declined in the CG. |
| Rossi et al. [32] | 2017 | 15 females | 19.3 ± 1.0 | United States | Baseball | College division I | 3-day food record | Nutrition education intervention (F2F, every 3 weeks, 12 weeks) |
NEI athletes significantly increased total energy intake, total carbohydrate intake, and total protein intake following the intervention. |
| Valliant et al. [22] | 2012 | NEI 11 females CG 11 females |
NEI 19.8 ± 1.0 CG 19.5 ± 1.0 |
United States | Volleyball | College division 1 | 3-day food record | Nutrition education NEI (F2F, 4 individual sessions, 4 months) CG (no treatment) |
NEI athletes significantly increased total energy, carbohydrate, and protein intake following the intervention. |
| Wenzel et al. [33] | 2012 | NEI 10 females CG 29 females |
NEI 19.8 ± NR CG 19.8 ± NR |
United States | Volleyball | College division 1 | 3-day food record | Nutrition counselling NEI (F2F, once a month, 4 months) CG (no treatment) |
Athletes significantly increased total energy, carbohydrate, and protein intake following the intervention. |
| Zeng et al. [24] | 2020 | NEI 15 males CG 15 males |
NEI 16.7 ± 1.8 CG 16.8 ± 1.7 |
China | Soccer | Youth top | 3-day food record | Nutrition education intervention NEI (F2F and comic book, once a week during 30 min, 4 weeks) CG (comic book) |
No changes were observed in total carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake in NEI and CG following the intervention. |
n: number; M: mean; SD: standard deviation; NEI: nutrition education intervention; CG: control group; F2F: face to face; KAP: nutrition knowledge, attitude and practice; SNK: sport nutrition knowledge; NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association.