An online exploratory survey of Australian athletes' and exercisers' use of and attitudes toward ultra-processed sports foods
Journal article
Forsyth, Adrienne and Mantzioris, Evangeline. (2023). An online exploratory survey of Australian athletes' and exercisers' use of and attitudes toward ultra-processed sports foods. British Journal of Nutrition. 130(9), pp. 1625-1636. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114523000648
Authors | Forsyth, Adrienne and Mantzioris, Evangeline |
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Abstract | Sports foods are convenient alternatives to everyday foods to fuel performance. Strong scientific evidence supports their use; however, commercial sports foods are classified by the NOVA system as ultra-processed foods (UPF). Consumption of UPF has been associated with poor mental and physical health, but little is known about athletes’ consumption of and attitudes towards sports foods as a source of UPF. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess Australian athletes’ intake of and attitudes towards sports foods and UPF. Adult athletes were recruited to complete an anonymous online survey via social media between October 2021 and February 2022. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and Pearson’s χ2 test was used to assess potential relationships between categorical demographic variables and consumption of sports foods. One hundred forty Australian adults participating in recreational (n 55), local/regional (n 52), state (n 11), national (n 14) or international (n 9) sports completed the survey. Ninety-five percent reported consuming sports foods within the past 12 months. Participants consumed sports drinks most commonly (73 %) and isolated protein supplements most frequently (40 % at least once per week). Participants reported everyday foods to be more affordable, taste better, present less risk of banned substances, but less convenient and greater risk of spoilage. Half (51 %) of participants reported concern about health effects of UPF. Participants reported regular UPF consumption despite taste and cost-related preferences for everyday foods and health concerns regarding UPF intake. Athletes may need support to identify and access safe, affordable, convenient, minimally processed alternatives to sports foods. |
Keywords | athletes; exercisers; sports foods; ultra-processed foods; attitudes |
Year | 2023 |
Journal | British Journal of Nutrition |
Journal citation | 130 (9), pp. 1625-1636 |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
ISSN | 0007-1145 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114523000648 |
PubMed ID | 36999372 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85151901331 |
Web address (URL) | https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/an-online-exploratory-survey-of-australian-athletes-and-exercisers-use-of-and-attitudes-towards-ultraprocessed-sports-foods/82DC4872CAC7AD0771508387426C10C2 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 1625-1636 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 31 Mar 2023 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 08 Mar 2023 |
Deposited | 13 Sep 2023 |
Additional information | © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society. |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited. |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8z9vz/an-online-exploratory-survey-of-australian-athletes-and-exercisers-use-of-and-attitudes-toward-ultra-processed-sports-foods
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Publisher's version
OA_Forsyth_2023_An_online_exploratory_survey_of_Australian.pdf | |
License: CC BY 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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