Dietary diversity, lifestyle, and hydration practices among athletes in Lagos State, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Background Athletes require adequate dietary diversity, healthy lifestyle behaviours, and appropriate hydration to support performance, recovery, and long-term health. However, local evidence on these practices among Nigerian athletes remains limited. Objective To assess dietary diversity, lifestyle and hydration practices, and related factors among athletes in Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 athletes recruited from five stadia in Lagos State. Data were collected using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographics, lifestyle and hydration habits, and a single 24-hour recall to compute the FAO dietary diversity score (DDS) across nine food groups. Anthropometric measurements were taken and BMI calculated. Data were analysed in SPSS v20 using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests (p<0.05). Results  Participants were predominantly male (78.0%) and mostly aged 18–24 years. The mean DDS was 5.0 ± 1.11. Dietary diversity was largely medium (64.5%), with 10.0% low and 23.3% high. All respondents consumed starchy staples (100%); consumption of organ meat was rare (2.0%). Most athletes reported snacking between meals (78.0%), and breakfast was the most commonly skipped meal (61.3%). Most drank water between meals (84.7%) and during physical activity (72.0%), though many lacked knowledge of recommended daily water intake (58.7%). Dietary diversity was significantly associated with alcohol consumption and snacking between meals, whereas meal skipping was not. Nearly half of the female athletes had a moderate (44%) or high (6%) risk of overweight based on waist circumference. Conclusion Age was positively associated with BMI (p=0.027). Athletes in Lagos showed generally moderate dietary diversity and mixed lifestyle/hydration practices, with clear behavioural links to dietary diversity.