Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Review of Factors Influencing Athletes’ Food Choices

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Athletes make food choices on a daily basis that can affect both health and performance. A well planned nutrition strategy that includes the careful timing and selection of appropriate foods and fluids helps to maximize training adaptations and, thus, should be an integral part of the athlete’s training programme. Factors that motivate food selection include taste, convenience, nutrition knowledge and beliefs. Food choice is also influenced by physiological, social, psychological and economic factors and varies both within and between individuals and populations. This review highlights the multidimensional nature of food choice and the depth of previous research investigating eating behaviours. Despite numerous studies with general populations, little exploration has been carried out with athletes, yet the energy demands of sport typically require individuals to make more frequent and/or appropriate food choices. While factors that are important to general populations also apply to athletes, it seems likely, given the competitive demands of sport, that performance would be an important factor influencing food choice. It is unclear if athletes place the same degree of importance on these factors or how food choice is influenced by involvement in sport. There is a clear need for further research exploring the food choice motives of athletes, preferably in conjunction with research investigating dietary intake to establish if intent translates into practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wansink B, Sobal J. Mindless eating: the 200 daily food decisions we overlook. Environ Behav. 2007;39(1):106–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sobal J, Bisogni CA. Constructing food choice decisions. Ann Behav Med. 2009;38:S37–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Devine CM. A life course perspective: understanding food choices in time, social location, and history. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2005;37(3):121–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Jaeger SR, Bava CM, Worch T, et al. The food choice kaleidoscope. A framework for structured description of product, place and person as sources of variation in food choices. Appetite. 2011;56(2):412–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Parraga IM. Determinants of food consumption. J Am Diet Assoc. 1990;90(5):661–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Furst T, Connors M, Bisogni CA, et al. Food choice: a conceptual model of the process. Appetite. 1996;26(3):247–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Smart LR, Bisogni CA. Personal food systems of male college hockey players. Appetite. 2001;37(1):57–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Long D, Perry C, Unruh SA, et al. Personal food systems of male collegiate football players: a grounded theory investigation. J Athl Train. 2011;46(6):688–95.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mello JA, Gans KM, Risica PM, et al. How is food insecurity associated with dietary behaviors? An analysis with low-income, ethnically diverse participants in a nutrition intervention study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010;110(12):1906–11.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Worsley A. Nutrition knowledge and food consumption: can nutrition knowledge change food behaviour? Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2002;11(Suppl 3):S579–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Contento IR, Williams SS, Michela JL, et al. Understanding the food choice process of adolescents in the context of family and friends. J Adolesc Health. 2006;38(5):575–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Rodriguez NR, Di Marco NM, Langley S. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Nutrition and athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):709–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Robins A, Hetherington MM. A comparison of pre-competition eating patterns in a group of non-elite triathletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2005;15(4):442–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ono M, Kennedy E, Reeves S, et al. Nutrition and culture in professional football. A mixed method approach. Appetite. 2012;58(1):98–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wardle J, Haase AM, Steptoe A, et al. Gender differences in food choice: the contribution of health beliefs and dieting. Ann Behav Med. 2004;27(2):107–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Byrne S, McLean N. Elite athletes: effects of the pressure to be thin. J Sci Med Sport. 2002;5(2):80–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Anderson C, Petrie TA. Prevalence of disordered eating and pathogenic weight control behaviors among NCAA division I female collegiate gymnasts and swimmers. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2012;83(1):120–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bublitz MG, Peracchio LA, Block LG. Why did I eat that? Perspectives on food decision making and dietary restraint. J Consum Psychol. 2010;20(3):239–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Cohen DA, Babey SH. Contextual influences on eating behaviours: heuristic processing and dietary choices. Obes Rev. 2012;13(9):766–79.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. De Castro JM. Socio-cultural determinants of meal size and frequency. Br J Nutr. 1997;77(Suppl 1):S39–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lamont M, Kennelly M. I can’t do everything! Competing priorities as constraints in triathlon event travel careers. Tour Rev Int. 2011;14:85–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Landers GJ, Ong KB, Ackland TR, et al. Kinanthropometric differences between 1997 World championship junior elite and 2011 national junior elite triathletes. J Sci Med Sport. 2013;16(5):444–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Bisogni CA, Jastran M, Shen L, et al. A biographical study of food choice capacity: standards, circumstances, and food management skills. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2005;37(6):284–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bisogni CA, Falk LW, Madore E, et al. Dimensions of everyday eating and drinking episodes. Appetite. 2007;48(2):218–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Travis S, Bisogni C, Ranzenhofer L. A conceptual model of how US families with athletic adolescent daughters manage food and eating. Appetite. 2010;54(1):108–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Winter Falk L, Bisogni CA, Sobal J. Food choice processes of older adults: a qualitative investigation. J Nutr Educ. 1996;28(5):257–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Marshall D, Bell R. Meal construction: exploring the relationship between eating occasion and location. Food Qual Prefer. 2003;14(1):53–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Vartanian LR, Herman CP, Wansink B. Are we aware of the external factors that influence our food intake? Health Psychol. 2008;27(5):533–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Herman CP, Roth DA, Polivy J. Effects of the presence of others on food intake: a normative interpretation. Psychol Bull. 2003;129(6):873–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Jastran MM, Bisogni CA, Sobal J, et al. Eating routines. Embedded, value based, modifiable, and reflective. Appetite. 2009;52(1):127–36.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Bisogni CA, Connors M, Devine CM, et al. Who we are and how we eat: a qualitative study of identities in food choice. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2002;34(3):128–39.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lamont-Mills A, Christensen SA. Athletic identity and its relationship to sport participation levels. J Sci Med Sport. 2006;9(6):472–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Lamont M, Kennelly M, Wilson E. Competing priorities as constraints in event travel careers. Tour Manag. 2012;33(5):1068–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Heaney S, O’Connor H, Naughton G, et al. Towards an understanding of the barriers to good nutrition for elite athletes. Int J Sports Sci Coach. 2008;3(3):391–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Steptoe A, Pollard TM, Wardle J. Development of a measure of the motives underlying the selection of food: the food choice questionnaire. Appetite. 1995;25(3):267–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Prescott J, Young O, O’Neill L, et al. Motives for food choice: a comparison of consumers from Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and New Zealand. Food Qual Prefer. 2002;13(7–8):489–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Honkanen P, Frewer L. Russian consumers’ motives for food choice. Appetite. 2009;52(2):363–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Crossley ML, Nazir M. Motives underlying food choice: an investigation of dental students. Braz J Oral Sci. 2002;1(1):27–33.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Share M, Stewart-Knox B. Determinants of food choice in Irish adolescents. Food Qual Prefer. 2012;25(1):57–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Lockie S, Lyons K, Lawrence G, et al. Eating ‘green’: motivations behind organic food consumption in Australia. Sociol Ruralis. 2002;42(1):23–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lowe MR, Butryn ML. Hedonic hunger: a new dimension of appetite? Physiol Behav. 2007;91(4):432–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Hoefling A, Strack F. Hunger induced changes in food choice. When beggars cannot be choosers even if they are allowed to choose. Appetite. 2010;54(3):603–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. King NA, Burley VJ, Blundell JE. Exercise-induced suppression of appetite: effects on food intake and implications for energy balance. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1994;48(10):715–24.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Deighton K, Zahra JC, Stensel DJ. Appetite, energy intake and resting metabolic responses to 60 min treadmill running performed in a fasted versus a postprandial state. Appetite. 2012;58(3):946–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Broom DR, Batterham RL, King JA, et al. Influence of resistance and aerobic exercise on hunger, circulating levels of acylated ghrelin, and peptide YY in healthy males. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2009;296(1):R29–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Martins C, Morgan LM, Bloom SR, et al. Effects of exercise on gut peptides, energy intake and appetite. J Endocrinol. 2007;193(2):251–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Shorten AL, Wallman KE, Guelfi KJ. Acute effect of environmental temperature during exercise on subsequent energy intake in active men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90(5):1215–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. King NA, Tremblay A, Blundell JE. Effects of exercise on appetite control: implications for energy balance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29(8):1076–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Deighton K, Barry R, Connon CE, et al. Appetite, gut hormone and energy intake responses to low volume sprint interval and traditional endurance exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013;113(5):1147–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Aeberli I, Erb A, Spliethoff K, et al. Disturbed eating at high altitude: influence of food preferences, acute mountain sickness and satiation hormones. Eur J Nutr. 2013;52(2):625–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Hagobian TA, Sharoff CG, Stephens BR, et al. Effects of exercise on energy-regulating hormones and appetite in men and women. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2009;296(2):R233–42.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. White LJ, Dressendorfer RH, Holland E, et al. Increased caloric intake soon after exercise in cold water. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2005;15(1):38–47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. King JA, Wasse LK, Stensel DJ. Acute exercise increases feeding latency in healthy normal weight young males but does not alter energy intake. Appetite. 2013;61:45–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Caudwell P, Gibbons C, Hopkins M, et al. The influence of physical activity on appetite control: an experimental system to understand the relationship between exercise-induced energy expenditure and energy intake. Proc Nutr Soc. 2011;70(2):171–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Blundell JE, Stubbs RJ, Hughes DA, et al. Cross talk between physical activity and appetite control: does physical activity stimulate appetite? Proc Nutr Soc. 2003;62(3):651–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Melzer K, Kayser B, Saris WHM, et al. Effects of physical activity on food intake. Clin Nutr. 2005;24(6):885–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. McKiernan F, Hollis JH, McCabe GP, et al. Thirst-drinking, hunger-eating; tight coupling? J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109(3):486–90.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Pettersson S. Pipping Ekström M, Berg CM. The food and weight combat. A problematic fight for the elite combat sports athlete. Appetite. 2012;59(2):234–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Loucks AB. Energy balance and body composition in sports and exercise. J Sports Sci. 2004;22(1):1–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Mayer J. Glucostatic mechanism of regulation of food intake. 1953. Obes Res. 1996;4(5):493–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Simpson SJ, Raubenheimer D. Obesity: the protein leverage hypothesis. Obes Rev. 2005;6(2):133–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Flatt JP. Dietary fat, carbohydrate balance, and weight maintenance: effects of exercise. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987;45(1 Suppl):296–306.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Tremblay A, Plourde G, Despres JP, et al. Impact of dietary fat content and fat oxidation on energy intake in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989;49(5):799–805.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Flatt JP. The difference in the storage capacities for carbohydrate and for fat, and its implications in the regulation of body weight. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1987;499:104–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Hopkins M, Jeukendrup A, King NA, et al. The relationship between substrate metabolism, exercise and appetite control does glycogen availability influence the motivation to eat, energy intake or food choice? Sports Med. 2011;41(6):507–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Flatt JP. Glycogen levels and obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1996;20(Suppl 2):S1–11.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Gosby AK, Conigrave AD, Lau NS, et al. Testing protein leverage in lean humans: a randomised controlled experimental study. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e25929.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Martens EA, Lemmens SG, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Protein leverage affects energy intake of high-protein diets in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;97(1):86–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Stubbs RJ, Harbron CG, Murgatroyd PR, et al. Covert manipulation of dietary fat and energy density: effect on substrate flux and food intake in men eating ad libitum. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;62(2):316–29.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Snitker S, Larson PE, Tataranni A, et al. Ad libitum food intake in humans after manipulation of glycogen stores. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;65(4):941–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Galgani JE, De Jonge L, Most MM, et al. Effect of a 3-day high-fat feeding period on carbohydrate balance and ad libitum energy intake in humans. Int J Obes. 2010;34(5):886–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Shetry PS, Prentice AM, Goldberg GR, et al. Alterations in fuel selection and voluntary food intake in response to isoenergetic manipulation of glycogen stores in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;60(4):534–43.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Sparti A, Windhauser MM, Champagne CM, et al. Effect of an acute reduction in carbohydrate intake on subsequent food intake in healthy men. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;66(5):1144–50.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Rumpler WV, Kramer M, Rhodes DG, et al. The impact of the covert manipulation of macronutrient intake on energy intake and the variability in daily food intake in nonobese men. Int J Obes. 2006;30(5):774–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Almeras N, Lavallee N, Despres JP, et al. Exercise and energy intake: effect of substrate oxidation. Physiol Behav. 1995;57(5):995–1000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Melby CL, Osterberg KL, Resch A, et al. Effect of carbohydrate ingestion during exercise on post-exercise substrate oxidation and energy intake. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002;12(3):294–309.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Kissileff HR, Pi-Sunyer FX, Segal K, et al. Acute effects of exercise on food intake in obese and nonobese women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;52(2):240–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Jeukendrup AE. Carbohydrate feeding during exercise. Eur J Sport Sci. 2008;8(2):77–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Eckel RH, Hernandez TL, Bell ML, et al. Carbohydrate balance predicts weight and fat gain in adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83(4):803–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Yang D, Liu Z, Yang H, et al. Acute effects of high-protein versus normal-protein isocaloric meals on satiety and ghrelin. Eur J Nutr. 2014;53(2):493–500.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Marmonier C, Chapelot D, Louis-Sylvestre J. Effects of macronutrient content and energy density of snacks consumed in a satiety state on the onset of the next meal. Appetite. 2000;34(2):161–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Griffioen-Roose S, Mars M, Siebelink E, et al. Protein status elicits compensatory changes in food intake and food preferences. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(1):32–8.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Garcia-Roves PM, Fernandez S, Rodriguez M, et al. Eating pattern and nutritional status of international elite flatwater paddlers. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2000;10(2):182–98.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Burke LM, Slater G, Broad EM, et al. Eating patterns and meal frequency of elite Australian athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2003;13(4):521–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Brooks RC, Simpson SJ, Raubenheimer D. The price of protein: combining evolutionary and economic analysis to understand excessive energy consumption. Obes Rev. 2010;11(12):887–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Martens EAP, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Protein diets, body weight loss and weight maintenance. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2014;17(1):75–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Galgani J, Ravussin E. Energy metabolism, fuel selection and body weight regulation. Int J Obes. 2008;32(Suppl 7):S109–19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Cox GR, Clark SA, Cox AJ, et al. Daily training with high carbohydrate availability increases exogenous carbohydrate oxidation during endurance cycling. J Appl Physiol. 2010;109(1):126–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Roy HJ, Lovejoy JC, Keenan MJ, et al. Substrate oxidation and energy expenditure in athletes and nonathletes consuming isoenergetic high- and low-fat diets. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67(3):405–11.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. King JA, Miyashita M, Wasse LK, et al. Influence of prolonged treadmill running on appetite, energy intake and circulating concentrations of acylated ghrelin. Appetite. 2010;54(3):492–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Martins C, Kulseng B, King NA, et al. The effects of exercise-induced weight loss on appetite-related peptides and motivation to eat. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95(4):1609–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Blundell JE, Caudwell P, Gibbons C, et al. Role of resting metabolic rate and energy expenditure in hunger and appetite control: a new formulation. Dis Model Mech. 2012;5(5):608–13.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Caudwell P, Finlayson G, Gibbons C, et al. Resting metabolic rate is associated with hunger, self-determined meal size, and daily energy intake and may represent a marker for appetite. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;97(1):7–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Blundell JE, Caudwell P, Gibbons C, et al. Body composition and appetite: fat-free mass (but not fat mass or BMI) is positively associated with self-determined meal size and daily energy intake in humans. Br J Nutr. 2012;107(3):445–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Weise CM, Hohenadel MG, Krakoff J, et al. Body composition and energy expenditure predict ad libitum food and macronutrient intake in humans. Int J Obes. 2014;38(2):243–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  96. Johnstone AM, Murison SD, Duncan JS, et al. Factors influencing variation in basal metabolic rate include fat-free mass, fat mass, age, and circulating thyroxine but not sex, circulating leptin, or triiodothyronine. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82(5):941–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  97. O’Connor H, Olds T, Maughan RJ. Physique and performance for track and field events. J Sports Sci. 2007;25(Suppl 1):49–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  98. Long SJ, Hart K, Morgan LM. The ability of habitual exercise to influence appetite and food intake in response to high- and low-energy preloads in man. Br J Nutr. 2002;87(5):517–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  99. King NA, Horner K, Hills AP, et al. The interaction between exercise, appetite, and food intake: implications for weight control. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2013;7(4):265–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  100. King NA, Lluch A, Stubbs RJ, et al. High dose exercise does not increase hunger or energy intake in free living males. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1997;51(7):478–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  101. Glanz K, Basil M, Maibach E, et al. Why Americans eat what they do: taste, nutrition, cost, convenience, and weight control concerns as influences on food consumption. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98(10):1118–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Milošević J, Žeželj I, Gorton M, et al. Understanding the motives for food choice in Western Balkan countries. Appetite. 2012;58(1):205–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Shannon C, Story M, Fulkerson JA, et al. Factors in the school cafeteria influencing food choices by high school students. J Sch Health. 2002;72(6):229–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Clark JE. Taste and flavour: their importance in food choice and acceptance. Proc Nutr Soc. 1998;57(4):639–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Eertmans A, Baeyens F, Van den Bergh O. Food likes and their relative importance in human eating behavior: review and preliminary suggestions for health promotion. Health Educ Res. 2001;16(4):443–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  106. Connors M, Bisogni CA, Sobal J, et al. Managing values in personal food systems. Appetite. 2001;36(3):189–200.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Iglesias-Gutiérrez E, García-Rovés PM, García A, et al. Food preferences do not influence adolescent high-level athletes’ dietary intake. Appetite. 2008;50(2–3):536–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  108. Pelly F, King T, O’Connor H. Factors influencing food choice of elite athletes at an international competition dining hall. In: 2nd Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science conference, 2006, Sydney, Australia; 2006.

  109. Sommer I, MacKenzie H, Venter C, et al. Factors influencing food choices of food-allergic consumers: findings from focus groups. Allergy. 2012;67(10):1319–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  110. Black KE, Skidmore P, Brown RC. Case study: nutritional strategies of a cyclist with celiac disease during an ultraendurance race. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2012;22(4):304–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  111. Worme JD, Doubt TJ, Singh A, et al. Dietary patterns, gastrointestinal complaints, and nutrition knowledge of recreational triathletes. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51(4):690–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  112. Pfeiffer B, Stellingwerff T, Hodgson AB, et al. Nutritional intake and gastrointestinal problems during competitive endurance events. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012;44(2):344–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  113. Rehrer NJ, van Kemenade M, Meester W, et al. Gastrointestinal complaints in relation to dietary intake in triathletes. Int J Sport Nutr. 1992;2(1):48–59.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  114. Eertmans A, Victoir A, Vansant G, et al. Food-related personality traits, food choice motives and food intake: mediator and moderator relationships. Food Qual Prefer. 2005;16(8):714–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  115. Mai R, Hoffmann S. Taste lovers versus nutrition fact seekers: how health consciousness and self-efficacy determine the way consumers choose food products. J Consum Behav. 2012;11(4):316–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  116. Nie C, Zepeda L. Lifestyle segmentation of US food shoppers to examine organic and local food consumption. Appetite. 2011;57(1):28–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  117. Steptoe A, Wardle J. Motivational factors as mediators of socioeconomic variations in dietary intake patterns. Psychol Health. 1999;14(3):391–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  118. Vartanian LR, Wharton CM, Green EB. Appearance vs. health motives for exercise and for weight loss. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2012;13(3):251–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  119. LaChausse RG. Motives of competitive and non-competitive cyclists. J Sport Behav. 2006;29(4):304–14.

    Google Scholar 

  120. Lamont M, Kennelly M. A qualitative exploration of participant motives among committed amateur triathletes. Leis Sci. 2012;34(3):236–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  121. Brown TD, O’Connor JP, Barkatsas AN. Instrumentation and motivations for organised cycling: the development of the cyclist motivation instrument (CMI). J Sports Sci Med. 2009;8(2):211–8.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  122. Pollard TM, Steptoe A, Wardle J. Motives underlying healthy eating: using the food choice questionnaire to explain variation in dietary intake. J Biosoc Sci. 1998;30(2):165–79.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  123. Ree M, Riediger N, Moghadasian MH. Factors affecting food selection in Canadian population. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2008;62(11):1255–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  124. Croll JK, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, et al. Adolescents involved in weight-related and power team sports have better eating patterns and nutrient intakes than non-sport-involved adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106(5):709–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  125. Parmenter K, Wardle J. Development of a general nutrition knowledge questionnaire for adults. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999;53(4):298–308.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  126. Wardle J, Parmenter K, Waller J. Nutrition knowledge and food intake. Appetite. 2000;34(3):269–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  127. Kolodinsky J, Harvey-Berino JR, Berlin L, et al. Knowledge of current dietary guidelines and food choice by college students: better eaters have higher knowledge of dietary guidance. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007;107(8):1409–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  128. Heaney S, O’Connor H, Michael S, et al. Nutrition knowledge in athletes: a systematic review. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2011;21(3):248–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  129. Spronk I, Kullen C, Burdon C, et al. Relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake. Br J Nutr. 2014;111(10):1713–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  130. Walsh M, Cartwright L, Corish C, et al. The body composition, nutritional knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and future education needs of senior schoolboy rugby players in Ireland. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2011;21(5):365–76.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  131. Spendlove JK, Heaney SE, Gifford JA, et al. Evaluation of general nutrition knowledge in elite Australian athletes. Br J Nutr. 2012;107(12):1871–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  132. Harrison J, Hopkins WG, MacFarlane DJ, et al. Nutrition knowledge and dietary habits of elite and non-elite athletes. Aust J Nutr Diet. 1991;48:124–7.

    Google Scholar 

  133. Stunkard AJ, Messick S. The three-factor eating questionnaire to measure dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger. J Psychosom Res. 1985;29(1):71–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  134. Ward A, Mann T. Don’t mind if I do: disinhibited eating under cognitive load. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000;78(4):753–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  135. Forestell CA, Spaeth AM, Kane SA. To eat or not to eat red meat. A closer look at the relationship between restrained eating and vegetarianism in college females. Appetite. 2012;58(1):319–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  136. Ashikali EM, Dittmar H. Body image and restrained eating in blind and sighted women: a preliminary study. Body Image. 2010;7(2):172–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  137. Timko CA, Perone J. Rigid and flexible control of eating behavior and their relationship to dieting status. Eat Weight Disord. 2006;11(3):e90–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  138. Meule A, Westenhöfer J, Kübler A. Food cravings mediate the relationship between rigid, but not flexible control of eating behavior and dieting success. Appetite. 2011;57(3):582–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  139. Williams N, Leidy H, Flecker K, et al. Food attitudes in female athletes: association with menstrual cycle length. J Sports Sci. 2006;24(9):979–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  140. Barrack MT, Rauh MJ, Barkai HS, et al. Dietary restraint and low bone mass in female adolescent endurance runners. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87(1):36–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  141. DeBate RD, Wethington H, Sargent R. Sub-clinical eating disorder characteristics among male and female triathletes. Eat Weight Disord. 2002;7(3):210–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  142. Landers GJ, Blanksby BA, Ackland TR, et al. Morphology and performance of world championship triathletes. Ann Hum Biol. 2000;27(4):387–400.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  143. Knechtle B, Wirth A, Baumann B, et al. Personal best time, percent body fat, and training are differently associated with race time for male and female lronman triathletes. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2010;81(1):62–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  144. Franchi M. Food choice: beyond the chemical content. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2012;63:17–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  145. Finlayson G, Bryant E, Blundell JE, et al. Acute compensatory eating following exercise is associated with implicit hedonic wanting for food. Physiol Behav. 2009;97(1):62–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  146. Fitzgerald A, Heary C, Nixon E, et al. Factors influencing the food choices of Irish children and adolescents: a qualitative investigation. Health Promot Int. 2010;25(3):289–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  147. Boek S, Bianco-Simeral S, Chan K, et al. Gender and race are significant determinants of students’ food choices on a college campus. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012;44(4):372–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  148. Nogueira LAD, Da Costa THM. Nutrient intake and eating habits of triathletes on a Brazilian diet. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004;14(6):684–97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  149. Burke LM, Read RSD. Diet patterns of elite Australian male triathletes. Phys Sportsmed. 1987;15(2):140–55.

    Google Scholar 

  150. Lindeman A. Eating and training habits of triathletes: a balancing act. J Am Diet Assoc. 1990;90(7):993–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  151. van’t Riet J, Sijtsema SJ, Dagevos H, et al. The importance of habits in eating behaviour. An overview and recommendations for future research. Appetite. 2011;57(3):585–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  152. Holsten JE, Deatrick JA, Kumanyika S, et al. Children’s food choice process in the home environment. A qualitative descriptive study. Appetite. 2012;58(1):64–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  153. Berthoud HR. Neural control of appetite: cross-talk between homeostatic and non-homeostatic systems. Appetite. 2004;43(3):315–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  154. Wansink B. Environmental factors that increase the food intake and consumption volume of unknowing consumers. Annu Rev Nutr. 2004;24:455–79.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  155. Pollard J, Kirk SFL, Cade JE. Factors affecting food choice in relation to fruit and vegetable intake: a review. Nutr Res Rev. 2002;15(2):373–87.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  156. Devine CM, Connors M, Bisogni CA, et al. Life-course influences on fruit and vegetable trajectories: qualitative analysis of food choices. J Nutr Educ. 1998;30(6):361–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  157. Mak AHN, Lumbers M, Eves A, et al. Factors influencing tourist food consumption. Int J Hosp Manag. 2012;31(3):928–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  158. Rozin P, Fischler C, Imada S, et al. Attitudes to food and the role of food in life in the USA, Japan, Flemish Belgium and France: possible implications for the diet-health debate. Appetite. 1999;33(2):163–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  159. Pieniak Z, Verbeke W, Vanhonacker F, et al. Association between traditional food consumption and motives for food choice in six European countries. Appetite. 2009;53(1):101–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  160. Nestle M, Wing R, Birch L, et al. Behavioral and social influences on food choice. Nutr Rev. 1998;56(5 II):S50–74.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  161. Pelly F, O’Connor H, Denyer G, et al. Catering for the athletes village at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games: the role of sports dietitians. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2009;19(4):340–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  162. Burke LM, King C. Ramadan fasting and the goals of sports nutrition around exercise. J Sports Sci. 2012;30(Suppl. 1):S21–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  163. Dolan E, O’Connor H, McGoldrick A, et al. Nutritional, lifestyle, and weight control practices of professional jockeys. J Sports Sci. 2011;29(8):791–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  164. Hanton S, Fletcher D, Coughlan G. Stress in elite sport performers: a comparative study of competitive and organizational stressors. J Sports Sci. 2005;23(10):1129–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  165. Arnott I. How do the internal variables of the sport consumer affect the marketing of sports events: case study triathlon in the UK. Int Bus Res. 2008;1(3):3–21.

    Google Scholar 

  166. Steenhuis IHM, Waterlander WE, De Mul A. Consumer food choices: the role of price and pricing strategies. Public Health Nutr. 2011;14(12):2220–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The authors have no potential conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, DC, QLD, 4558, Australia

    Karen L. Birkenhead & Gary Slater

Authors
  1. Karen L. Birkenhead
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gary Slater
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen L. Birkenhead.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Birkenhead, K.L., Slater, G. A Review of Factors Influencing Athletes’ Food Choices. Sports Med 45, 1511–1522 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0372-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0372-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation