Differences in Mediterranean Diet Adherence between Cyclists and Triathletes in a Sample of Spanish Athletes

Abstract

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) has rapidly declined in Mediterranean countries due to the increasing introduction of the Western diet. The aim of this study was to describe adherence to the MD within a sample of athletes from Spain. A second aim was to predict adherence to various components of the MD according to region, sex, and sport discipline. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 4037 (34.14 ± 9.28 years old) cyclists and triathletes (men: 90.1%). Participants self-reported their sex, date of birth, the number of years they had been practicing their sport, height, weight, sport discipline (cyclist, triathlon), and region. Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) was used to determine level of adherence to the MD. Women reported a higher MEDAS score and body mass index (BMI) (p ˂ 0.000) than men. Cyclists reported a lower MEDAS score (7.44, SD 2.12 vs. 7.85, SD 2.08), and older age (37.72, SD 9.67 vs. 34.54, SD 8.58) and BMI (23.74, SD 2.69) vs. 22.85, SD 2.28) than triathletes. The study showed that a large proportion of the surveyed athletic population were not meeting the MD guidelines, with particularly low consumption amongst men and cyclists. There were no regional effects. Nutritional guidelines for athletes should be individual rather than general and follow specifications identified by the present research.

The Influence of the Trainer’s Social Behaviors on the Resilience, Anxiety, Stress, Depression and Eating Habits of Athletes

“…In this sense, the figure of the trainer is considered key for sportsmen and women, since he or she constitutes the main reference point of the team. In addition, this study analyses for the first time a direct relationship between the capacity to face up to stressors, mental health and the relationship with eating habits, habits that are essential for the physical and mental health of the athletes, and for their good performance during competition [6].…”

“…Despite this, few studies have examined the relationship between the social behavior of the trainer on the management of stress during competition by athletes [4] and the consequences on their dietary behaviors [5]. In this sense, several studies give balanced diets a significant relationship with sports performance [6,7]. Therefore, this study aims to analyze how social behaviors of trainers influence the coping capacity, psychological well-being, and eating habits of the athlete, elements that are key to achieving achievements during competition.…”

Association between diet quality and obesity indicators among the working-age adults in Inner Mongolia, Northern China: a cross-sectional study

“…In 2014, the prevalence rate of overweight and obesity in 20 European countries reached 53.1% [24]. Some studies [25,26] in the Mediterranean region about Mediterranean Diet are using MEDAS to determine the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. However, MEDAS is not very suitable for the non-Mediterranean region.…”

The Mediterranean dietary pattern for optimising health and performance in competitive athletes: a narrative review

“…To date, few studies have attempted to quantify level of adherence to the MedDiet in athletes, with mixed results emerging (176)(177)(178)(179)(180) . Crucially, these studies have been exclusively conducted in Spain -a country in which MedDiet adherence is traditionally high (1) , but may be decreasing due to Westernisation of the diet (181) .…”