2019 年 13 巻 4 号 p. 311-320
A survey was conducted involving female soccer players who belong to a top-level soccer team in the Japan Women’s Soccer League (top players) and junior/senior high school players who are members of its affiliated club for young soccer players (young players), to examine their awareness of health management and diet as well as their dietary habits. Both teams are from female soccer clubs to which many players represent Japan. To the question : “Do you know about the three primary characteristics of female athletes (a lack of energy, menstrual abnormalities, stress fracture/osteoporosis)”, the rates of top and young players who answered “Yes” were 80 and 48%, respectively ; the difference was significant (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the status of milk intake (p=0.013) ; whereas 55% of top players “rarely drank milk”, 48% of young players “drank it almost every day”. There was a significant difference in the status of cheese intake (p=0.033) ; whereas 40% of top players “rarely ate it”, 52% of young players “ate it twice or three times a week”. The rate of supplement intake was higher among top players (32%) compared with young players (5%). Regarding reasons for eating and drinking after soccer games, “recovery from fatigue” was cited as a cause by 100 and 55% of top and young players, respectively, and 44 and 86% of top and young players ate and drank “from hunger”, respectively ; the differences were significant (p<0.01 each). The results of the survey provided the following valuable knowledge required to support female athletes in the future : it is necessary to implement education on the three primary characteristics of female athletes for young soccer players who may be selected as members of the national team ; there is a difference in milk/supplement intake between top and young players ; and they eat and drink for different reasons after soccer games.
