Energy Intake and Energy Expenditure Assessment of Male Adolescent Academy-Level Football Players

The purpose of this study was to provide further insight into the limited amount of data that exists on both the dietary practices and energy expenditure of adolescent academy-level football players. Ten male adolescent football players, representing a professional club at academy level (mean ± SD: 15.4 ± 0.3 years; height 1.7 ± 0.1m; weight 57.8 ± 7.8kg and BMI 19.8 ± 1.6kg/m²) participated in the study. All players recorded their 7 day dietary intake using the combined method of self-reported weighed food diary and 24 hour recall. In addition energy expenditure was calculated for the 7 days directly using a tri-axial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+, Pensacola, FL). The 7 day period was conducted during the second half of the 2012/2013 competitive season and included 4 training days, 2 rest days and a match day. Results identified a difference between mean daily energy intake (2169 ± 134 kcal) and mean daily energy expenditure (2555 ± 300 kcal), t(6) = -4.17, p < 0.05, ES = 1.78. Mean deficit between energy intake and energy expenditure was -389 ± 273 kcal. The mean macronutrient composition of the dietary intake was 318 ± 24 g•d⁻¹ carbohydrate, 86 ± 10g•d⁻¹ protein and 70 ± 21g•d⁻¹ fats representing 55.0 ± 3.3, 16.2 ± 1.5, 28.7 ± 2.3% of mean daily energy intake respectively. In conclusion, the findings of the study indicate that within this population of adolescent academy-level footballer players, energy intake is insufficient to sustain the energy requirements. This may have both a short and long term negative impact on performance during training and match-play as well as implications for a player’s physical development