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Abstract

Previous research has reported an inverse relationship between body fat percentage (BF%) and sports nutrition knowledge (SNK) in athletes. Fat-free mass index (FFMI) is a related measurement that allows for the normalization of fat-free mass (FFM) by dividing the FFM in kg by height in meters squared. However, it is unknown whether this variable is influenced by an athlete’s SKN and sleep quality. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between FFMI, BF%, total body water (TBW), SNK, and sleep quality score (SQ) in Division II female soccer players. METHODS: Twenty-eight women (Mean + SD: Age = 19.4 ± 1.1 y, Height = 164.3 ± 7.0 cm, Weight = 64.5 ± 7.3 kg, BF% = 29.3 ± 4.2%, FFMI= 16.8 ± 1.1 kg/m2) underwent a bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure FFMI, BF%, and TBW. SNK was measured using the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ) and SQ was measured using the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). The percentage of questions answered correctly on the ANSKQ and the raw score of the ASSQ were used to run the correlations. RESULTS: No relationships were observed between FFMI and SNK (r = 0.184, p = 0.347), FFMI and SQ (r = -0.266, p = 0.171), BF% and SNK (r = -0.203, p = 0.30), BF% and SQ (r = 0.290, p = 0.134), or BF% and FFMI (r = 0.071, p = 0.719). A moderate correlation was observed between FFMI and TBW (r = 0.529, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Prior research in college athletes indicated they have a low level of SNK that is associated with a higher BF%. Moreover, sleep has been shown to influence fat and muscle mass. Our results show there is no relationship between FFMI and SNK, FFMI and SQ, BF% and SNK, or BF% and SQ in Division II female soccer players. As such, there are other variables that need to be explored to understand the factors that can influence the body composition of this demographic. Future research should continue to explore other variables, as well as additional athletic populations.

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