Energy expenditure and dietary intake in professional football players in the Dutch Premier League: Implications for nutritional counselling.

Selecting effective dietary strategies for professional football players requires comprehensive information on their energy expenditure (EE) and dietary intake. This observational study aimed to assess EE and dietary intake over a 14-day period in a representative group (n?=?41) of professional football players playing in the Dutch Premier League (Eredivisie). Daily EE, as assessed by doubly labelled water, was 13.8???1.5 MJ/day, representing a physical activity level (PAL) of 1.75???0.13. Weighted mean energy intake (EI), as assessed by three face-to-face 24-h recalls, was 11.1???2.9 MJ/day, indicating 18???15% underreporting of EI. Daily EI was higher on match days (13.1???4.1 MJ) compared with training (11.1???3.4 MJ; P More