Nutritional practices among promising 13-14-year-old male soccer players attending the National Sports School of Malta

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional practices of promising 13 to 14 year-old student athletes attending the National Sports School (NSS) of Malta, with soccer as their chosen specialised sporting discipline. A four-day self-reported food, liquid, and activity diary was used to estimate the energy intake of the participants and determine their state of energy balance. The majority of student athletes (68%) were found to be in a state of energy deficit. An evaluation of nutritional behaviours among the participants indicated poor eating habits in relation to recommended guidelines for optimal sports performance. A lack of knowledge about the unhealthy and performance-inhibiting effects of poor nutrition, and associated implications on their long-term sporting careers also emerged as a prominent theme. Further research is needed to more accurately establish the energy costs of exercise in the context of athlete preparation and training in young adolescents.