International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences Vol. 11(2), pp. 350 - 359
DOI: 10.13189/saj.2023.110212
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Correlation of Consumption Vegetables, Fruit, and Nuts with Body Mass Index and Fat Deposition in Saudi Elite Male Soccer Players

Hadeel Ali Ghazzawi ¹, Ghareeb O. Alshuwaier ^2,*, Abdulrahman I. Alaqil ³, Abdulmalek K. Bursais ³, Anwar A. Al-Nuaim ³, Jwaher Haji Alhaji ⁴, Yuba R. Gautam ⁵, Khalid S. Aljaloud ², Faisal N. Alosaimi ², Adam Tawfiq Amawi ⁶, Lana Salah Subhi Nemer ¹, Jumana Hussine Shehadeh ^7
1 Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, School of Agriculture, University of Jordan, P.O. Box 11942 Amman, Jordan
² Department of Exercise Physiology, College of Sport Sciences and Physical Activity, King Saud University, Riyadh P.O. BOX 145111 ZIP 4545, Saudi Arabia
³ Department of Physical Education, College of Education, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa P.O. BOX 31982 ZIP 400, Saudi Arabia
⁴ Department of Health Sciences, College of Applied Studies and Community Service, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh ZIP 4545, Saudi Arabia
⁵ School of Health and Human Performance, College of Health Science and Professional Studies, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, MI 49855, USA
⁶ Department of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Al-Salt 19328, Jordan
⁷ School of Nursing- The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan

ABSTRACT

Background: The nutrition of elite soccer players is crucial to optimize performance and improve body composition. Currently, little is known about the correlations between the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and nuts with body mass index (BMI) and fat deposition among Saudi soccer elite players. To address this gap in the literature, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and nuts on BMI and fat percentage in elite Saudi soccer players. Methods: The Saudi Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used alongside a cross-sectional research design to gather data from a sample of young Saudi soccer players (N = 81; aged 17–21 years old) to assess participants' food intake; body fat percentage was measured using skinfold thickness and BMI was calculated. Results: It showed that the participants' consumption of fruit, vegetables, and nuts was low (mean intake: 63.80 (SD = 28.54), 60.65 (SD = 32.97), 31.58 (SD = 18.94), respectively). Moreover, the relationship between the indexes for the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and nuts with BMI was not significant (r = - 0.037, p = 0.742; r = 0.143, p = 0.203; r = 0.080, p = 0.477, respectively). Also, there was no significant relationship between the indexes for the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and nuts with fat percentage (r = - 0.066, p = 0.560; r = 0.119, p = 0.292; r = 0.012, p = 0.913, respectively). Furthermore, fat percentage was significantly predicted by BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results indicated that the consumption of vegetables and nuts was associated with better BMI values. Thus, athletes should adopt a strict dietary regime that focuses on an adequate amount of high-quality fruit, vegetables, and nuts to enhance performance. The significance of this research stems from being the first to evaluate the association between vegetables, fruits, and nuts intake and body composition among Saudi soccer elite athletes, giving a rise in understanding regarding athletes' nutrition to achieve better and improved body composition.

KEYWORDS
Soccer, Body Mass Index, Vegetables, Performance, Vitamin

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Hadeel Ali Ghazzawi , Ghareeb O. Alshuwaier , Abdulrahman I. Alaqil , Abdulmalek K. Bursais , Anwar A. Al-Nuaim , Jwaher Haji Alhaji , Yuba R. Gautam , Khalid S. Aljaloud , Faisal N. Alosaimi , Adam Tawfiq Amawi , Lana Salah Subhi Nemer , Jumana Hussine Shehadeh , "Correlation of Consumption Vegetables, Fruit, and Nuts with Body Mass Index and Fat Deposition in Saudi Elite Male Soccer Players," International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 350 - 359, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2023.110212.

(b). APA Format:
Hadeel Ali Ghazzawi , Ghareeb O. Alshuwaier , Abdulrahman I. Alaqil , Abdulmalek K. Bursais , Anwar A. Al-Nuaim , Jwaher Haji Alhaji , Yuba R. Gautam , Khalid S. Aljaloud , Faisal N. Alosaimi , Adam Tawfiq Amawi , Lana Salah Subhi Nemer , Jumana Hussine Shehadeh (2023). Correlation of Consumption Vegetables, Fruit, and Nuts with Body Mass Index and Fat Deposition in Saudi Elite Male Soccer Players. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 11(2), 350 - 359. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2023.110212.