Development and Validation of Evidence-based, Culturally-specific Nutrition Guidelines for Sri Lankan Track and Field Athletes

Background: Up-to-date, culturally-specific sports nutrition advice is important to improve the sports performance and overall well-being of athletes. Although various sports nutrition guidelines exist, there is a lack of culturally specific guidelines for Sri Lankan athletes. Objectives: This study aimed to develop and validate evidence-based sports nutrition guidelines for Sri Lankan athletes to enhance nutritional status and performance.
Materials & Methods: The guidelines were developed using a systematic four-phase approach involving a team of nutrition experts. The validation process employed a two-phased Delphi method, wherein a separate panel of nutrition specialists experienced in working with athletes, assessed the guidelines based on its accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, and clarity. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated, with a threshold of ≥ 3.2 out of 4.0 required for each chapter to meet the validation criteria and revisions were done when the chapters did not meet the threshold.
Results: The finalized guidelines comprised ten chapters addressing both general nutrition (five chapters) and sports nutrition (five chapters). In the initial validation phase, Chapter 2 (clarity and appropriateness), Chapter 5 (clarity), and Chapter 9 (clarity) did not meet the threshold, with CVI scores falling below 3.2. Following revisions, the content validity of the chapters improved, achieving CVI scores of 3.4, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.4, respectively, meeting the required standards for validation. Conclusion: The study successfully developed and validated evidence-based sports nutrition guidelines tailored for Sri Lankan track and field athletes. Future research should focus on long-term adherence and the broader applicability of these guidelines across different sports disciplines.