A study was conducted on the eating habits and nutritional intake of female university athletes to assess suitability for maintaining health and improving performance. The subjects were rhythmic gymnasts (n=5), swimmers (n=5), tennis players (n=9), basketball players (n=9), badminton players (n=10), 6-a-side volleyball players (n=6), 9-a-side volleyball players (n=4) and basketball referees (n=9) who were surveyed in June and October of 1999. Each subject consented to participating in this study. The height, body weight, percentage body fat, lean body weight, eating habits and nutritional intakes of each athlete were evaluated over the study period.
The lean body weight of the badminton and 6-a-side volleyball players was significantly lower in October than in June. The dietary intake of energy, protein and carbohydrate by all the sports players in June and October was lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Japanese, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two evaluation dates for these athletes, apart from the basketball referees. The respective rates of skipping breakfast, lunch and dinner were 21.4%, 8.3%, and 7.3%. Only 25.8% of the subjects had a diet composed of a staple food, main dish and side dishes, and cakes and sweets were eaten at one of the three meals.
It seems likely that frequently skipping meals and eating cakes and sweets would be responsible for the undesirably low intake of energy, protein and carbohydrate by the university sportswomen, irrespective of the type of sport and training program.