Sports nutritionists’ perspectives on enablers and barriers to nutritional adherence in high performance sport: A qualitative analysis informed by the COM-B model and theoretical domains framework
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Abstract
<p class="first" id="d16560222e85">Athlete adherence to nutritional guidance is critical
for optimal health and performance,
yet little is known about the barriers and enablers to athletes' dietary behaviours
within high-performance sport. To advance understanding, we applied a theoretical
lens derived from the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) model
and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to explore the qualitative accounts of
sports nutritionists. Five focus groups comprising sports nutritionists working in
Olympic and Paralympic sport (n = 14), professional sport (n = 6), or both (n = 6)
were undertaken. Thematic analysis was conducted and the interpretations of the findings
were guided by COM-B and the TDF. To achieve nutritional adherence, the behavioural
analysis identified the need to intervene across all three COM-B components and at
least five associated TDF domains (e.g., decision-making processes, reinforcement,
social influences, behavioural regulation and environmental context and resource).
For the first time, the findings illustrate the complex interplay of the training
setting with the capabilities, opportunities, and motivation of the practitioners,
athletes and coaches. By applying established behavioural science theories to sports
nutrition, the foundations for the development of targeted and multifaceted behavioural
interventions addressing athlete dietary adherence in high-performance sport have
been laid.
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