An observational study in Assess Dietary Intake, Nutitional Knowledge, Eating Behaviours and Body Composition Characeristics in HIFT Athletes, sponsored by University of Alicante. Recruiting at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-15.
Sponsored by University of Alicante · Observational
This is an observational study aiming to assess the nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, supplement use, body composition, and physiological profiles of HYROX athletes. The main objective is to describe and evaluate the nutritional, anthropometric, and performance-related characteristics of these athletes to better understand factors influencing race performance. The main question it seeks to answer is: What are the nutritional, kinanthropometric, and physiological profiles of HYROX athletes, and how are dietary practices, supplement use, and body composition associated with their performance?
HYROX athletes represent a unique cohort characterized by specific nutritional, physiological, and multi-modal performance demands, including body composition, strength, and endurance. Despite the global growth of hybrid fitness competitions, empirical evidence regarding the dietary practices, nutritional knowledge, and body composition of these athletes remains limited. This study addresses this gap through a comprehensive cross-sectional assessment of competitive HYROX athletes.
Data were collected using validated online questionnaires, including a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFFQ) to evaluate dietary intake, a 20-item supplement use questionnaire assessing consumption patterns, beliefs, and knowledge, and the Abbreviated Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ) to measure nutritional knowledge. Eating behaviors and potential disordered eating were screened using the EAT-26 and the Figure Rating Scale (FRS). This structured protocol enables a detailed characterization of dietary habits, supplementation practices, nutritional knowledge, and body composition among HYROX athletes. By synthesizing these metrics, the study establishes a foundational characterization of the hybrid athlete, identifying physiological risks and providing the evidence-based framework necessary to optimize competitive performance
HYROX athletes
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants not included in the Pro or Open categories were excluded
Competitive male athletes
Competitive female athletes
Dietary intake
A validated Short Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFFQ) will be used to assess dietary quality. The questionnaire consists of 20 items covering key food groups, including fruits, vegetables, high-fiber foods, high-fat and sugary foods, meat and meat products, and fish. Participants are asked to report the frequency of foods and beverages consumed during a "typical week" over the past month. Response options range from "rarely or never" to "more than five times per day." The final score will be calculated based on the extent to which participants meet the UK dietary recommendations.
Time frame: 5 years
Body composition
Assess body composition by anthropometry to estimate muscle mass and fat mass
Time frame: 5 years
Eating behaviours disorders
Information on eating disorders will be collected using the EAT-26 test and the Figure Rating Scale (FRS). The EAT-26 comprises three subscales: Diet, Bulimia, and Oral Control, with responses on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always). It also includes five questions related to disordered eating behaviors to identify athletes at risk, with a score of 20 or more suggesting possible eating disorders. The FRS is a visual tool assessing body image and perceived body size, with nine male and nine female figures ranging from very thin (1) to overweight (9).
Time frame: 5 years
Nutritional Knowledge
Nutritional knowledge will be assessed with the Abbreviated Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ), divided into two subsections: the first with 17 items on general nutrition knowledge, and the second with 20 items focused on athletes' knowledge about macronutrient and fluid requirements, weight loss and gain strategies, and dietary supplements. Each correct answer is awarded +1 point, while each incorrect answer is assigned -1 point. The maximum possible score is 59 points, and the minimum possible score (all answers incorrect) is -59 points. The questionnaire is divided into four sections: Macronutrients: 29 points (equivalent to 49.1 on a 0-100 scale), micronutrients: 19 points (32.2 on a 0-100 scale), hydration: 8 points (13.6 on a 0-100 scale) and periodization: 3 points (5.1 on a 0-100 scale).
Time frame: 5 years
Plan to share: No — The data are available from the authors on request from the IP JMMS (josemiguel.ms@ua.es).
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University of Alicante