Specifics of dietary behavior and distribution of energy value in the diet of student-athletes under martial law

Abstract

Under the conditions of military aggression and forced adaptation to the academic environment, the issue of rational nutrition for first-year students requires special attention. The combination of high psycho-emotional tension with intense physical activity of future coaches demands strict adherence to a dietary regimen to maintain working capacity, ensure proper recovery, and form a nutritional culture. Systematic violations of the frequency and energy value of meals negatively affect the health status and sports performance of youth, necessitating a detailed analysis of their actual diet and the identification of key deficiencies in the structure of daily energy consumption.  Objective. To determine the specifics of dietary behavior in the rations of student-athletes and to identify key violations in the distribution of food caloric intake throughout the day under martial law.  Methods.Analysis and generalization of scientific publications, empirical method of data collection.  Results. A critically high frequency of skipping breakfast and dinner was established. Analysis of dietary diaries revealed a significant gender imbalance in the energy value of main meals, which does not comply with the norms of rational distribution. A tendency to replace full lunches with street food and high-calorie snacks was identified; these account for up to 35% of the daily diet but do not provide long-lasting satiety. The necessity of correcting the dietary habits of youth through the implementation of self-control tools and increasing the level of nutritional literacy to preserve their health and success was substantiated.  Conclusions. Modern challenges caused by military aggression and adaptation to studies provoke a significant deformation of students' eating behavior. For students majoring in "Physical Culture and Sport," this factor is critical, as the training process against the background of a disturbed dietary regimen can lead to the exhaustion of the body's adaptive reserves. Analyzing the diet structure and identifying nutritional deficiencies is a necessary step for developing strategies to preserve the health of student-athletes in crisis conditions.