Raw data for Contemporary Educational and Behaviour Change Strategies Improve Dietary Practices Around a Match in Professional Soccer Players

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of targeted nutritional education and behaviour change interventions on dietary intake in professional football players. Twenty players from the professional development phase in an English Premier League club (age: 18.4 ± 1.0 years; body mass: 76.1 ± 6.0 kg; stature: 1.80 ± 0.07 m) were randomly assigned to an ‘Intervention’ (INT) group (n = 10), who received numerous nutritional education and behaviour change interventions, or a ‘Control’ (CON) group (n = 10), who received no nutrition support. Dietary intake was assessed daily throughout the match-week (Match Day (MD)-2, MD-1, MD, MD+1, and MD+2). Mean energy (3393 ± 852 vs. 2572 ± 577 kcal·day−1) and CHO (5.36 ± 1.9 vs. 3.47 ± 1.1 g·kg−1 BW·day−1) intake was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the INT vs. CON group. Furthermore, the INT group implemented nutrition periodisation practices as CHO intake was significantly increased on MD-1 (7.0 ± 1.7 g·kg−1 BM·day−1), MD (7.1 ± 1.4 g·kg−1 BM·day−1) and MD+1 (5.1 ± 0.8 g·kg−1 BM·day−1). However, the CON group did not periodise their CHO intake and failed to meet CHO recommendations on MD-1, MD and MD+1 (< 4 g·kg−1 BM·day−1). The implementation of targeted nutritional education and behaviour change interventions resulted in improved dietary practices in professional football players and enabled better adherence to recommended guidelines