Bidrar idrettsarenaen til et helsefremmende kosthold? : En analyse av måltidsmønster, mat- og drikkeinntak og identifisering av potensielle påvirkningsfaktorer for kostholdsvaner hos ungdom på en fotballturnering

Abstract

Background: Diet during adolescence is important for health in short and long term. The sports area is considered as a potential setting for creating a health promoting environment, since many adolescents are participating in organized sport. Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine differences in meal pattern, food and beverage consumption adolescents attending a soccer tournament compared with intake in everyday life. Method: The qualitative research conducted through semi-structured interviews (n = 7) consisting of soccer coaches, management of the tournament and sponsors of the tournament. Furthermore, a cross-sectional study was conducted based on a food frequency questionnaire during two days of the tournament and one week in everyday life. The questionnaire was answered by soccer players aged 13 to 19 years during the tournament (n = 531). Results: During the two registration days in the tournament a higher number of adolescents ate all four meals including breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper (49%) than in everyday life (39%). A higher number of adolescents had a high intake of fruit (79%) and vegetables (77%) during the tournament compared with intake of fruit (50%) and vegetables (57%) in everyday life. A higher number of adolescents had a high intake of soft drinks during the tournament (33%) than in everyday life (11%). There are also positive associations between adolescents’ eating habits and gender, age and parental education Conclusion: The results showed differences in meal pattern and food and drink consumption in the tournament and the habitual intake in everyday life. Keywords: Adolescents, Soccer tournament, Diet, Meal pattern, Public health.