Peart, D. J., Walshe, I. H., Briggs, M. A., McIver, V. J., Esen, O., Spurr, T. J. and Rumbold, P. L. S. (2025) The effect of a short recipe book intervention on nutrition confidence and sports nutrition knowledge of women football players. Performance Nutrition, 1 (1). pp. 1-9. ISSN 3059-2933
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Abstract
Background: Nutrition knowledge and confidence can be key facilitators to good nutrition behaviours. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured and personalisable recipe-based nutrition education resource, on sports nutrition knowledge and confidence among women football players. Fifty-two women football players across different competitive levels (tiers two and four of the English league and academy players) completed a survey assessing training and nutrition habits, nutrition confidence, and sports nutrition knowledge. A sample of participants were randomized into an intervention group (n = 10), receiving a resource with practical applications and personalisable meal adaptations, or a control group (n = 8) receiving theoretical guidance without recipes (both two weeks). Both groups then repeated the same survey at the end of the two-week period. Results: In the initial survey fewer than half of the players (40%) regularly planned their meals ahead of time, but the majority planned what (71%) and when (73%) they ate in relation to training and competition most of the time. More than half had at least some responsibility for doing the grocery shopping (67%) and preparing and cooking meals (90%), highlighting an opportunity to intervene. Results demonstrated that while the intervention significantly improved nutrition knowledge compared to control (p = 0.004), the overall score was still low (< 50% for both groups), and the change was within the typical error for the measure. Nutrition confidence was also low, with no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: This short home-based intervention had a statistical but unlikely meaningful impact on nutrition knowledge, but not confidence. These findings are considered alongside the participants’ nutrition habits, and discussed in the context of self-determination theory to highlight the potential role of relatedness to improve competence and autonomy, and subsequently knowledge and confidence.
Publication Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2025 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | food skills, female athlete, cooking skills, sport |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV201 Physical education and training G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports > GV711 Coaching Q Science > QP Physiology |
Divisions: | Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Area > Exercise Physiology Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Research Theme > Nutritional Supplementation Research Entities > Centre for Health and Allied Sport and Exercise Science Research (CHASER) |
SWORD Depositor: | Publications Router Jisc |
Depositing User: | Publications Router Jisc |
Date Deposited: | 30 Jun 2025 12:35 |
Last Modified: | 30 Jun 2025 12:35 |
URI: | https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/8145 |