Study of Different Personalised Dietary Plans on Eating Behaviour, Body Image and Mood in Young Female Professional Handball Players: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Laura Miralles-Amorós,
Manuel Vicente-Martínez,
María Martínez-Olcina,
Nuria Asencio-Mas,
Lucía Gonzálvez-Alvarado,
Marcelo Peñaranda-Moraga,
Belén Leyva-Vela,
Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda,
Guillermo Cortés-Roco,
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez
Affiliations
Laura Miralles-Amorós
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Manuel Vicente-Martínez
Faculty of Health Science, Miguel de Cervantes European University, 47012 Valladolid, Spain
María Martínez-Olcina
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Nuria Asencio-Mas
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Lucía Gonzálvez-Alvarado
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Marcelo Peñaranda-Moraga
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Belén Leyva-Vela
Department of Health, Vinalopó University Hospital, 03293 Elche, Spain
Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda
Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar 2520000, Chile
Guillermo Cortés-Roco
School of Education, Pedagogy in Physical Education, Sports Coach, Universidad Viña del Mar, Viña del Mar 2520000, Chile
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Low energy availability may precede or be caused by cognitive disturbances in professional athletes. Related psychological problems include disordered eating patterns, body shape preoccupation, depression or anxiety. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of different personalised dietary plans on psychological factors in young professional female handball players with low energy availability. This 12-week randomised clinical trial involved 21 female players aged 22 ± 4 years, 172.0 ± 5.4 cm and 68.4 ± 6.7 kg divided into three groups (FD: free diet; MD: Mediterranean diet; HAD: high antioxidant diet). Eating behaviour (Eating Attitude Test, EAT-26: diet, bulimia and oral control subscales), body image (Body Shape Questionnaire, BSQ) and mood state (Profile of Mode State, POMS: tension, vigour, anger, depression, fatigue) were assessed. All participants showed low energy availability (p < 0.05). Eating behaviour improved slightly but did not show statistically significant changes. Following an adequate nutritional planning for athletes seems to improve the mood and body perception of young female handball players. A longer intervention period is required to assess the differences between diets and improvement of other parameters.
