Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/3157
Date of Award
9-2025
Degree Name
MS in Nutrition
Department/Program
Food Science and Nutrition
College
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Advisor
Scott Reaves
Advisor Department
Food Science and Nutrition
Advisor College
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
Energy intake and macronutrient composition of an athlete’s diet is highly important when considering performance. Additionally, having a favorable body composition (i.e. low levels of fat mass and high levels of lean body mass) is crucial in high-level athletes.The role of nutrition-related support personnel is highly needed by many collegiate athletics programs to achieve these outcomes, yet this resource seems to be undervalued and underused in many settings. The present thesis investigates the effects of providing nutritional support to improve dietary habits and compare changes in specific body composition metrics over the course of one season (pre- and post-season) among a select group of NCAA Division 1 football players. During the competition season, athletes received nutritional support from the Sports Nutrition Team consisting of post-exercise recovery smoothies, post-exercise recovery powder, snack bags for away games, and personalized nutrition plans. To measure changes in body composition, athletes received whole body DXA analysis prior to the start of their season to determine baseline body composition data and received the same analysis after their season had been completed to examine the impact of the provided nutritional support. There was high adherence to the nutritional support based on nutritional consultations between athletes and the Sports Nutrition Team. Despite this, athletes underconsumed total calories and were below estimated recommendations (approximately 3632 kcal consumed vs 3924 kcal recommended) and consumed protein amounts that were only slightly below recommendations (1.91 g/kg bodyweight vs 2.0 g/kg bodyweight). Statistically different changes between pre- and post-season bodyweight, lean body mass, fat mass, percent body fat, and visceral adipose tissue were unable to be detected. Findings indicate suboptimal intake of calories relative to recommendations and small, undetectable changes in body composition metrics among the collegiate athletes.