Differences in nutritional intake and physique according to dietary behaviors in middle school male athletes

Although various dietary behavioral issues affecting healthy development of adolescents have been studied, research on dietary behaviors of adolescent athletes is still limited. This study investigated the relationship between dietary behaviors and body size, energy intake, and nutrient intake in 66 first-year male middle school athletes (12.6-13.8 years old). Dietary behaviors were assessed using the nutritional quotient for adolescents (NQ-A), and energy and nutrient intakes were derived from 3-day food records including 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day. Dietary data were analyzed using CAN-pro 6.0 (Korean Nutrition Society). The results showed that the mean energy intake was 2,301.27±643.57 kcal, which was lower than the estimated energy requirement for this age group. In addition, the intake levels of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium were less than 70% of the Korean Dietary Reference Intake. In particular, calcium (r=0.31, P=0.021) and dietary fiber (r=0.28, P=0.038) showed a weak but positive correlation with the NQ-A score. Calcium (F=3.201, P=0.049) and dietary fiber (F=3.376, P=0.042) intake levels were significantly higher in athletes with higher NQ-A grades than in middle or low-grade athletes. However, no significant correlation was observed between NQ-A and physique. In conclusion, when evaluating the dietary behavior of middle school male athletes using NQ-A, athletes with better dietary behaviors were found to consume relatively more calcium and dietary fiber. However, it is important to note that a high NQ-A grade does not necessarily indicate sufficient nutrient intake.