Nutrition Knowledge and Low Energy Availability Risk in Ladies Gaelic Football Players

Nutrition knowledge (NK) may influence dietary behaviours and athlete health; however, limited research has examined the relationship between NK and risk of low energy availability (LEA) in female team sport athletes.

This study aimed to assess NK and LEA risk in female Ladies Gaelic Football (LGF) players and to examine the relationship between these variables.

Female LGF players (n = 58) aged 18-35 years completed a 75-item online questionnaire comprising the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ) and the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q). Mean total ANSKQ score was 53.1 ± 7.6%, categorized as "average", while the mean sport nutrition knowledge (SNK) score was 48.2 ± 8.5%, categorized as "poor". Lower micronutrient knowledge scores were observed among younger players and those with lower educational attainment (p < 0.05), while players with prior nutrition education demonstrated greater supplement-related knowledge (p < 0.05). Overall, 56.9% of the participants were classified as being at risk of LEA according to LEAF-Q criteria. LEA risk differed according to playing level and nutrition education status (p < 0.05); however, no association between overall NK and LEA risk was identified. Players identified as being at risk of LEA also demonstrated greater menstrual dysfunction and injury-related absence.

These findings indicate a high prevalence of LEA risk and suboptimal sport NK among female LGF players and suggest that NK alone may be insufficient to protect against LEA risk in female team sport athletes. Ongoing screening, nutrition education, and broader athlete support strategies are therefore warranted in this population.