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Cited by 1Nutrition, Health and Food BehaviorDietetics, Nutrition, and EducationNutritional Studies and Diet

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 52 of the 52 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 38 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Effect of a nutrition education intervention on sports nutrition knowledge, dietary intake, and body composition in female athletes: a randomized controlled trial

Open access
Veloso-Pulgar, Macarena, Farran-Codina, Andreu·2026·Frontiers in Nutrition

Abstract

Background/objectives: Adolescent female athletes often present insufficient dietary intake and limited sports nutrition knowledge (SNK). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a short-term nutrition education intervention on SNK, dietary intake, and body composition in adolescent female handball players. Methods: A community-based randomized controlled trial was conducted. Four handball clubs were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG received a nutrition education program consisting of three 30-min face-to-face group sessions delivered by a registered dietitian. The CG did not receive any nutrition education intervention during the study period. SNK, dietary intake, Mediterranean diet adherence (MD), and anthropometric and body composition measurements were assessed at baseline and follow-up in both groups. Results: A total of 97 participants were included (IG = 60, CG = 37), aged 12 to 19 years (mean 15.8 ± 1.2 years). SNK increased significantly in the IG immediately after the intervention and at three-month follow-up compared with baseline ( p < 0.05, effect size > 0.8). Baseline dietary records revealed, in both groups, insufficient energy intake (30 kcal/kg/day) and carbohydrate intake (2.7 g/kg/day), alongside a high total fat intake (1.5 g/kg/day). At baseline, 77.8% of the IG and 78.0% of the CG required improvements in adherence to the MD. No significant changes were observed in dietary intake, MD adherence, or body composition in either the IG or CG following the intervention. Conclusion: A brief nutrition education intervention effectively improved SNK in adolescent female athletes. However, these improvements did not translate into changes in dietary intake or body composition. These findings suggest that interventions incorporating behavioral strategies may be necessary to achieve significant dietary changes in this population. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier (NCT07460102).

Overview

CoChat Summary

TL;DR

A brief three-session nutrition education intervention significantly improved sports nutrition knowledge in adolescent female handball players but produced no significant changes in dietary intake or body composition. These findings suggest that knowledge gains alone may not be sufficient to drive short-term behavioral or physiological changes in this population.

Key findings

  • Sports nutrition knowledge (SNK) increased significantly in the intervention group (IG) from baseline to post-intervention by 19.7 points (95% CI 15.1–24.2; p < 0.001; Hedges’ g = 1.05) and from baseline to 3-month follow-up by 16.8 points (95% CI 11.7–21.8; p < 0.001; Hedges’ g = 1.00); no significant changes occurred in the control group (CG). The group × time interaction was significant (post-intervention: β = 15.6, p < 0.001; follow-up: β = 13.2, p = 0.001).
  • At baseline, both groups showed insufficient energy intake (~1,770 kcal/day; 30 kcal/kg/day), low carbohydrate intake (2.7 g/kg/day; ~35% of energy), and high total fat intake (1.5 g/kg/day; ~45% of energy). 77.8% of the IG and 78.0% of the CG required improvements in Mediterranean diet adherence.
  • No significant group × time interactions were found for any dietary intake variable, Mediterranean diet adherence (KIDMED), or body composition parameter. Saturated fat intake decreased significantly in both groups (IG −2.7 g, p = 0.011; CG −3.4 g, p = 0.007), but without a differential intervention effect.
  • Session attendance in the IG was 65% (session 1), 70% (session 2), and 60% (session 3).

Methods

  • A parallel-group cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in Catalonia, Spain. Four handball clubs were randomized 1:1 to an intervention group (IG; 2 clubs) or control group (CG; 2 clubs). The IG received three 30-min face-to-face group sessions delivered weekly by a registered dietitian; the CG received no intervention during the study period.
  • A total of 97 female handball players aged 12 to 19 years (mean 15.9 ± 1.2 years) were included (IG = 60, CG = 37). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up: SNK (NUKYA questionnaire), Mediterranean diet adherence (KIDMED index), dietary intake (3-day photographic food record), and anthropometric/body composition measures (multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis).
  • Changes over time were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models accounting for repeated observations nested within participants and participants clustered within clubs. Post hoc pairwise comparisons used Bonferroni correction; effect sizes were calculated with Hedges’ g. Sample size estimation required a minimum of 14 participants for SNK and 74 for calcium intake; attrition left 73 participants for dietary analyses.

Limitations

  • The paper states: parents were not included in the educational sessions due to organizational constraints; dietary records were self-reported and may have introduced recall bias or underreporting; the final sample for dietary analyses (73) fell slightly short of the required 74, potentially reducing power; and participant losses (17 IG, 6 CG) due to club changes, discontinuation, or loss of interest could affect generalizability.
  • The paper also notes: the small number of clubs (n = 4) meant club-level variance estimates were interpreted cautiously; the missing-data pattern was assumed missing at random but could not be formally verified; and the short intervention duration (three sessions) plus ongoing adolescent growth likely limited observable changes in body composition.
  • Evident from the text: participants could not be blinded to the educational intervention, and the trial was conducted in a single sport (handball) and region, which may limit broader applicability.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fnut.2026.1821345

Cites

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Figures

Figure 1 Study design and timeline.
Figure 1 Study design and timeline.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Consort flow diagram.
Figure 2 Consort flow diagram.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Ruiz-López, 2019, Guía Fotográfica de Porciones de Alimentos Consumidos en España
  2. Codina-Farran, 2022, Tablas Estándar de Composición de Los Alimentos–TECA: Taules Estàndard de Composició Dels Aliments-TECA

Cited by

Metadata

Authors
Veloso-Pulgar, M., & Farran-Codina, A.
Affiliations
  • Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
  • Departament de Nutrició, Ciències dels Aliments i Gastronomia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona
Venue
Frontiers in Nutrition
Published
2026-05-08
Volume
13
Pages
1821345-1821345
ISSN
2296-861X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W7160546606
Cited by
1
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 1
FWCI
3.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Nutrition (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • De La Salle University
  • Agenția Națională pentru Cercetare și Dezvoltare
  • Generalitat de Catalunya
  • Universitat de Barcelona
  • Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
  • Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (2021 SGR 01190, 2022-72220321)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Dietetics, Nutrition, and Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
nutrition education intervention, sports nutrition knowledge, adolescent female athletes, handball players, dietary intake, body composition, Mediterranean diet adherence, energy intake, carbohydrate intake, dietary fat intake, anthropometry, behavioral strategies

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