Are athletes adequately fuelled and informed? Dietary intake, energy availability and nutrition knowledge across athletes and their coaches

Abstract Purpose To assess the adequacy of dietary intake and the prevalence of low energy availability in athletes, while investigating the nutrition knowledge of athletes and their coaches. Methods Nutrition knowledge was assessed using the Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for Young and Adult Athletes (NUKYA), dietary intake was assessed using a 7-day food diary. Results 184 athletes and 13 coaches agreed to participate in the study. Overall nutrition knowledge was moderate (mean score: 46.5 points), where coaches scored significantly higher than athletes (p < 0.05). Mean energy availability was 24.8 kcal/kg Fat-Free Mass (FFM)/day, and 68.5% of athletes were classified in a Low Energy Availability (LEA) threshold. Compliance with carbohydrate recommendations was low (9.8%), while protein (48.9%) and fat (59.2%) compliance were moderate. High rates of micronutrient inadequacy were observed, particularly for vitamin D (77.2%), vitamin E (73.4%), calcium (60.9%), and folate (56.0%). Coaches’ nutrition knowledge was positively associated with athletes’ energy (r = 0.168, p = 0.022) and carbohydrate intake (r = 0.199, p = 0.007), whereas athletes’ own nutrition knowledge was not associated with dietary intake. Conclusion Despite moderate knowledge, athletes exhibit a high prevalence of LEA and inadequate carbohydrate intake. The findings underscore the critical role of coaches as mediators of nutritional behaviour and the necessity of implementing specialized nutrition education programs led by registered dietitians to optimize athlete health and performance.