Eating Habits and Dietary Diversity of Competitive Taekwondo Practitioners in Côte d’Ivoire: Implications for Sports Nutrition Education
Koffi Diallo
*
Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences, Development and Well-Being, National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and Laboratory of Nutrition and Food Technology (LANTA), Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
Messou Tchumou
Training and Research Unit (UFR) of Agriculture, Fisheries Resources and Agro-Industry, University of San-Pedro, BPV 1800, San-Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire.
Audrey Yepie
Laboratory of Nutrition and Food Security (LNSA), Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Sarah Zie Kouassi
Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences, Development and Well-Being, National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
N’Guessan Kouame
Laboratory of Human Movement Sciences, Development and Well-Being, National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Anin Louise Anin Atchibri
Laboratory of Nutrition and Food Security (LNSA), Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Emmanuel Assidjo
Laboratory of Nutrition and Food Technology (LANTA), Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Appropriate dietary habits are essential for supporting athletic performance, recovery and overall health. However, competitive taekwondo practitioners may experience nutritional challenges related to irregular meal patterns, inadequate dietary diversity and unsuitable beverage consumption. Evidence on these practices among taekwondo athletes in Côte d’Ivoire remains limited, highlighting the need for population-specific assessments to inform sports nutrition education.
Aims: To assess meal patterns, daytime dietary diversity, beverage consumption and water intake among competitive taekwondo practitioners, and to identify factors associated with low dietary diversity.
Study Design: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Forty-five taekwondo clubs affiliated with the national federation, Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), from 19 March to 13 April 2025.
Methodology: Ninety-seven licensed adult athletes (59 men, 38 women; median age 25 years) completed an online questionnaire. The dietary diversity score (DDS; 0–6 food groups) was classified as low at ≤2 groups; associated factors were analysed using logistic regression.
Results: Overall, 57.7% of athletes never ate breakfast and 53.6% had two meals or fewer per day. The mean DDS was 2.4 ± 1.5; 55.7% (95% CI: 45.8–65.2) had low diversity. Overall, 59.8% drank alcohol and 39.2% consumed energy drinks at least occasionally; 67.0% drank less than 2 L of water per day. Living with a guardian or with other people was associated with low diversity (adjusted OR = 6.63; 95% CI: 1.59–27.74).
Conclusion: These habits fall short of sports nutrition recommendations; the association with living arrangement, estimated in a small subgroup, requires confirmation. Nutrition education for Ivorian taekwondo athletes should target breakfast, dietary diversity based on local foods, hydration, and reduced consumption of alcohol and energy drinks.
Keywords: Taekwondo, combat sports, dietary diversity, breakfast, energy drinks, hydration, nutrition education