The Pre-Competition Meal Status of Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) Athletes

Abstract

Dietary practices of athletes have been found to be an essential component of training and performance. By making informed food choices, athletes will have an advantage over those who choose to ignore the role that food plays in human performance. The study sought to find the dietary practices and frequency of food consumption among students' athletes during 2012 GUSA games at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. The study was a cross-sectional survey where 107 athletes were sampled to response to closed ended questionnaire on their dietary practices. Data on dietary pattern of athletes, sources of foods, menu planning and type of foods eaten during the completion were collected. The result showed that diets of the athletes were planned with athletes eating variety of foods. However, the meals seemed not to contain other essential nutrients like fruits and vegetables; 62-94% of the respondents did not consume fruits before and during the competition. The results also revealed inadequate consumption of fluid by athletes which might have resulted in dehydration of athletes. Adequate carbohydrates, protein and fats were consumed during the competition and this is essential since they are energy sources for athletic performance. It is therefore, recommended that coaches should form part of meal planning for athletes during subsequent competitions and adequate provision made for fluids in the form of water, fruits, fruits juice and other sports drinks especially those containing sodium. This is because the consumption of fluid replacement drinks containing sodium helps retain water in the body and aids in hydration by increasing the absorption of fluid from the intestines into the muscles.