Lifestyle and Nutrition Evaluation in Physically Active People and Athletes

Assessment of level of adherence to Mediterranean Diet

Adherence to Mediterranean Diet will be evaluated with Mediterranean Diet Score (MEDI-LITE). that consists of 9 items that assess the daily consumption of fruit, vegetables, cereals, meat and meat products, dairy products, alcohol, and olive oil, and the weekly consumption of legumes and fish. For each food group, there are three categories of consumption, based on data available in the literature in relation to adherence to the Mediterranean diet and health status. The final score is obtained from the sum of all these scores, and it ranges from 0 (low adherence) to 18 (high adherence).

Assessment of nutrition knowledge

Nutrition knowledge will be evaluated with the General and Sport Nutrition Knowledge questionnaire (GeSNK) that is composed by 62 items divided into two main areas which are respectively related to: Nutrition Knowledge in general (29 items) Sports Nutrition Knowledge (33 items)

Current dietary intake and eating habits evaluation and comparison to the recommendations, according to sport practised

Dietary intake will be evaluated with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) composed of 110 items. The food items on the FFQ are grouped according to their nutrient contents in eight food groups, as follows: (a) Meat and fish products; (b) Sweets, nuts and snacks; (c) Vegetables; (d) Fruits; (e) Drinks; (f) Cereals and starchy foods; (g) Milk and dairy products; and (h) Oils and seasonings. Participants will also complete a 7-day food diary. It records the type and quantity of food and beverages, time and place of consumption, psychological states and social events that interfere in the eating process. Supplement use will also be registered. Data from the FFQ and food diary will be compared with each participant's nutritional requirements based on measurement of basal metabolic rate by indirect calorimetry adjusted for physical activity level.

Eating behaviour assessment

Eating behavior will be assessed with two principle questionnaires: Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), a 17-item self-report measure articulated in 2 subscales: healthy orthorexia (9 items), which indicates a healthy, nonpathological interest in proper nutrition, and orthorexia nervosa (8 items), which represents an extreme preoccupation with healthy diet that may lead to relevant emotional, social, and cognitive impairments. All items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 (completely disagree) to 3 (completely agree).

Eating behavior assessment

Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) will be used to measure the symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders. Scores greater than 20 indicate a need for further investigation by a qualified professional. Scores below 20 can still be consistent with serious eating problems, as denial of symptoms can be a problem with eating disorders.