Revista de Pesquisa Científica da Nutrição

Abstrato

The Impact of Nutritional Counseling in Conjunction with Co-activeCoaching on Behavior Change of Varsity Female Rowers

Dickey JP, Beggs VCE and Nolte VW

Study background: The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of sport nutrition counseling in conjunction with co-active life coaching on sport nutrition knowledge and resulting dietary behavior change among a group of female varsity rowers. Methods: Seven female athletes took part in a three-month study consisting of eight individual sport nutrition counseling sessions and eight co-active life coaching sessions. Athletes’ sport nutrition knowledge was assessed using a Sport Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire, and dietary behavior change was assessed through a subjective questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, and prospective completion of three-day food records. Results: There was a significant change in participants’ sport nutrition knowledge over the study period. Although not statistically significant, a change in athletes’ fat mass and waist circumference were measured, and participants reported positively on the impacts of the study intervention. Alternatively, at the conclusion of the project, participants showed low energy availability and inadequate dietary intakes of both macro and micronutrients, both below the recommended requirements for sport. Discussion: Despite eight weeks of sport nutrition counseling and co-active life coaching, participants still practiced eating behaviors that were potentially harmful to their health and performance. The study’s findings suggest that the current intervention had a positive effect on the participants’ sport nutrition knowledge but did not result in positive dietary behavior change. Conclusions: Due to the limitations of the current study further studies are warranted in order to evaluate whether there is a causal link between sport nutrition counseling in conjunction with co-active life coaching and athletes’ behavior change. Efforts toward authorization of validated practical interventions to decrease inadequate sport nutrition knowledge and diet behavior among athletes should be practiced.