Nutritional Status and Dietary Pattern of Male Athletes in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria

Abstract

Summary: Several factors, including nutritional status and dietary pattern are paramount to optimum performance among athletes. Notwithstanding, risky behaviours that limit or impair athletic performance are widely  prevalent among athletes; these include excessive weight reduction and inappropriate dietary practices. This study was conducted to provide  information on the nutritional status and dietary pattern of athletes in  Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. This was a cross sectional descriptive study,  involving 207 athletes aged 17 to 40 years in Ibadan. Nutritional status  was assessed by anthropometric indices: Body Mass Index (BMI) and  percentage body fat (%BF). BMI was calculated from weight and height measurements and %BF was estimated from the sum of skin-fold  thickness at 4 sites (triceps, biceps, sub-scapular and supra-iliac  skin-folds). Dietary pattern was assessed by food habits and food frequency questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were  conducted to describe and examine relationships between variables. Mean (SD) for variables were: age; 26.09(±4.77) years, weight; 72.13(±0.45) kg, height; 1.74(±0.06)m, and BMI; 23.89(±3.34)kg/m2. Only 4(1.93%) of the participants were underweight, 39(18.84%) were overweight and  8(3.86%) obese. Mean (SD) of %BF among overweight athletes was  14.25(±3.12) and maximum %BF among overweight athletes was 21.2. A strong and positive correlation was observed between BMI and %BF and %BF increased with age among overweight athletes. About 72% of the  athletes skipped meals, 77% drank water or sports drinks during sporting activities, about 11% spent less than #40.00 for each meal. About 49% ate before sports. Foods most frequently consumed by athletes in this study were meat, fish, roots/tubers, cereals, vegetables and fruits. Milk and  legumes were less frequently consumed by these athletes. Most of these athletes had nutritional status adequate for their sport activity. With  regards to food habits, most of these athletes performed poorly in  frequency of meals intake but did considerably well in intake of fluids. With regards to dietary pattern, sources of daily intakes comprised of mostly of meats, fish, roots and tubers, cereals and vegetables.

Keywords: Athletes, Nutritional Status, Dietary Pattern, Ibadan, Nigeria