Food Intake And Body Composition Of Elite Football Referees: A Longitudinal Study

PURPOSE: While several studies have explored physical activity profiles, physiological demands, and body composition of football referees, there is a notable lack of research on dietary consumption. The primary aim of this study was to compare dietary consumption and body composition parameters across three points in a season (pre, during, and post-season) within the same group of elite football referees. The secondary objective was to analyze the adequacy of nutrient consumption according to established guidelines at each of the three time points. METHODS: This longitudinal observational study was conducted with elite male referees (n = 14) affiliated with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). Three 24-hour dietary recalls (R24h) were conducted at each time point to evaluate energy, macronutrient, micronutrient, and alcohol consumption, followed by comparisons of intake against the respective guidelines. Anthropometric assessments and body composition evaluations included measurements of body mass, height, circumferences, skinfold thickness, and whole-body Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc test or Kruskal-Wallis test with Mann-Whitney post-hoc test were used to identify differences between the three evaluated seasons. A significant level of 5% was adopted. RESULTS: The average age of the sample was 30.0 ± 3.78 years. The main findings were that the body fat percentage (%BF) mean values exceeded the CBF-recommended level (≤ 18%) pre and post season and meet the target only during the season by the skinfold method. Fat mass was significantly higher post-season compared to during the season (20.11 ± 5.75 kg vs. 14.44 ± 5.93 kg; p = 0.019) by the skinfold method. Dietary intake of carbohydrates, fiber, and certain micronutrients, such as vitamin E and calcium, was insufficient at different time points. Sodium intake was excessive in all time points. Alcohol consumption was notably higher post-season compared to pre-season (8.56 ± 12.56 g vs. 0.02 ± 0.061 g; p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results suggest a need for nutritional intervention in this population to improve dietary choices and habits, aiming to meet guidelines and enhance body composition, on-field performance, and overall health.