Table 3 Nutrition patterns of endurance athletes not following planned diet

Have you ever attempted a diet?

n = 162

n = 78

n = 84

 Yes

90 (55.6%)

31 (39.7%)^b

59 (69.2%)^a

How many diets have you attempted? (n = 90)

n = 90

n = 31

n = 59

  Different diets attempted

2.8 ± 1.9

2.0 ± 1.3

3.0 ± 2.0^c

 Attempted ≥ 3 diets

38 (42.2%)

6 (19.4%)^b

32 (54.2%)^a

What diet(s) did you attempt?

 Ketogenic/Atkins/Low-carbohydrate

46 (51.1%)

13 (41.9%)

33 (55.9%)

 Balanced diet

34 (37.8%)

12 (38.7%)

22 (37.3%)

 Low-carbohydrate only

29 (32.2%)

5 (16.1%)^b

24 (40.7%)^a

 Energy restricted

27 (30.0%)

3 (9.7%)^b

24 (40.7%)^a

 Paleo/Whole-30

27 (30.0%)

9 (29.0%)

18 (30.5%)

 Plant-based diet

25 (27.8%)

6 (19.4%)

19 (32.2%)

 Ketogenic diet only

23 (25.6%)

6 (19.4%)

17 (28.8%)

 Intermittent fasting

19 (21.1%)

4 (16.1%)

15 (23.7%)

 Gluten/Diary-free

13 (14.4%)

0 (0.0%)

13 (22.0%)

Why did you stop following that diet?

 Difficulty following

35 (38.9%)

13 (37.3%)

22 (37.3%)

 Can’t eat foods I enjoy

25 (27.8%)

6 (19.4%)

19 (32.2%)

 Difficult to obtain/prepare food

23 (25.6%)

6 (19.4%)

17 (28.8%)

 Personal/Medical reason

19 (21.1%)

2 (6.5%)^b

17 (28.8%)^a

How long were you able to follow the diet before stopping?

 Less than 1 wk

15 (16.7%)

5 (16.1%)

10 (16.9%)

 1 wk–less than 1 mo

37 (41.1%)

17 (54.8%)

20 (33.9%)

 1 mo–less than 3 mo

18 (20.0%)

3 (9.7%)

15 (25.4%)

 3 mo–less than 1 yr

17 (18.9%)

6 (19.4%)

11 (18.6%)

 Greater than 1 yr

3 (3.3%)

0 (0.0%)

5 (5.1%)