The optimal body composition for health is an individual trait and is determined by genetic factors, sex, age, somatotype, physical activity, and individual variability. The present study aims to assess how professional football players’ body composition has changed over the training macrocycle in various age groups and to determine the correlation between nutritional awareness and body composition maintenance. Thirty-eight football players participated in the study, with 16 players classified in the younger age group (19–25) and 22 in the older age group (26–31). Using the direct segmented multi-frequency electrical impedance analysis technique, the athletes’ body composition was assessed six times across a training macrocycle made up of preparatory, competitive, and transitional periods. The Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire was used to evaluate nutrition knowledge. The above correlations show that both younger and older athletes with higher awareness are better able to adjust their nutrition to meet the goals of the preparation period and can achieve greater gains in muscle mass and greater reductions in body fat. According to the study’s results, athletes who are better conscious of their nutritional needs during competition experience less muscle loss and exhibit more consistent body weight and BMI levels. Football players’ body composition suffers detrimental alterations throughout the transition period. Higher body mass, lean body mass content, and skeletal muscle mass are traits of older players. Higher nutritional knowledge reduces the negative modifications of body composition consisting of muscle mass reduction and fat gain. Nutritional knowledge influences the stability of body composition in both age groups during all the analyzed periods: Preparation, competition, and transition.

Background/Objectives: Eating disorders (EDs) result from complex interactions of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors, disproportionately affecting adolescents and young adults. Social media, peer pressure, and self-esteem issues contribute to ED prevalence. This study examines ED risk, eating behaviors, and self-esteem among individuals aged 16–25, exploring differences by gender, age, and social media usage. Methods: A total of 261 participants (113 high school students, 115 college students, 33 working individuals) completed the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) between April and June 2024. This study utilized the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and My Eating Habits (MEH) questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and linear regression, assessed associations between ED risk, self-esteem, and social media activity. Results: ED risk was identified in 47% (n = 123) of participants, with the highest prevalence in high school students (56.6%, n = 64). Significant gender differences were observed (p < 0.001), with males in the high school group showing elevated ED risk (64%, n = 32). Body dissatisfaction and frequent social media comparisons increased ED risk (p < 0.001); 45.7% (n = 102) of participants who often compared their bodies online reported heightened risk. Photo manipulation correlated with higher ED risk (p = 0.005). Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between ED risk and restrictive dieting (estimate = 0.9239; p < 0.001), while self-esteem had no significant effect (estimate = 0.00503, p = 0.977). Conclusions: This study highlights high ED risk driven by social media and body dissatisfaction. Interventions should focus on body image issues, self-acceptance, and media literacy. This study focused on a specific age group (16–25) in Poland, which may limit the ability to generalize the results to other demographic or cultural groups. Future research should include more diverse populations and objective measurements.

The main aim of the paper is to outline the perspective for future developments of the spa treatment in light of demographic transitions characterized by the increasing number of seniors, as well as changing expectations and health needs of younger population. We made a systematic review of literature referring to the experience of Poland, and similar experiences of other countries in Central Europe. Based on the existing knowledge we conclude that spa treatment should become one of the preferred directions of development of health systems in European countries. Moreover, we state that a desirable direction to modify the therapeutic paradigm used in spa treatment is to put a far-reaching greater emphasis on the provision of innovative health promotion, which is justified by both its effectiveness, and strongly good foundation for its provision in spas. For this purpose it is necessary to extend the specialized health sector personnel with qualified health educators, which will enable an effective implementation of health promotion actions and their proper alignment to the specific target groups. Developing this category of specialists will also enable other professionals to concentrate on therapeutic activity fitting their competence.

Background/Objectives: Eating disorders (EDs) and body image disturbances are increasingly recognized as important health issues among young athletes. Sports participation may both support healthy development and simultaneously increase vulnerability to disordered eating due to performance pressures and cultural ideals. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of eating disorders and body image among 17–20-year-old athletes. Methods: The study included 428 participants (215 women and 213 men) actively engaged in sports. Standardized psychometric tools were applied, including the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Body Esteem Scale (BES). Statistical analyses examined differences across gender, BMI categories, and sports disciplines, as well as predictors of ED risk. Results: The analysis showed that 32.9% (n = 141; 95% CI: 28.3–37.8%) of respondents were at risk of developing eating disorders, with women being significantly more vulnerable than men (p < 0.001; V = 0.27). Underweight athletes demonstrated a higher risk compared with those of normal weight (OR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.48–5.55, p < 0.001). The type of sport was also associated with risk (p < 0.001, V = 0.323); the highest prevalence of ED risk occurred among dancers (48.1%) and swimmers (38.9%). Body esteem differed markedly between groups: participants at risk scored lower in Weight Control (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.94) and Physical Attractiveness (p = 0.072) but higher in Physical Condition (p < 0.001). Regression analyses indicated that gender (β = −3.35, p < 0.001) and Body Esteem—Weight Control (β = −0.45, p < 0.001) were the strongest predictors of EAT-26 scores. Conclusions: The findings confirm the multidimensional nature of eating disorder risk among young athletes, highlighting the role of body image imbalance and gender differences. Early screening, preventive interventions, and multidisciplinary support are essential to protect both the physical and mental health of young athletes. Future research should include objective physiological measures and broader samples to improve generalizability.

Background/Objectives: Orthorexia nervosa and appearance-related pressures are increasingly discussed in youth sport, where performance demands may amplify perfectionistic tendencies and the internalization of cultural body ideals. This study examined how sociocultural attitudes toward appearance and perfectionism relate to orthorexic tendencies among adolescent football athletes. Methods: The study included players from a soccer school, with a final sample of 83 participants. All were Polish citizens aged 16–19. A cross-sectional design was used with standardized instruments: the Polish adaptation of the Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS) to index symptoms of ON risk, the Sport Perfectionism Questionnaire (positive/negative perfectionism), and the SATAQ-3 subscales to assess sociocultural internalization/pressures and information exposure. Results: Across the entire sample (n = 73), most athletes were classified as having no risk of ON—60 people (82.2%), a smaller proportion showed an increased risk—10 people (13.7%), and symptoms of ON were found in 3 people (4.1%). In bivariate analyses, orthorexic tendencies co-occurred with perfectionism. In multivariate models, the addition of the perfectionism block provided a significant increase in explained variance over age, BMI, and sociocultural attitudes, while the SATAQ-3 block contributed only a small amount of additional variance in the presence of other predictors. Conclusions: Orthorexic risk is present but not widespread in adolescent football athletes. Perfectionistic tendencies emerge as salient psychosocial correlates of orthorexic symptoms, while sociocultural pressures appear relevant but partly overlapping and not uniquely predictive when modeled together.

Introduction. The incidence of obesity has continued to rise over the years, a problem that is driving increased consumer interest in agents that can replace sucrose. Sweet taste is linked to feelings of pleasure and happiness. For this reason, among others, substances that are alternatives to sugar have received increasing attention over the past few years. The aim of the study was to assess consumer awareness and sweetener consumption habits of dietetics students. Material and methods. The study included 201 participants aged 18-27 years studying nutrition. Nutritional status was assessed using the Body Mass Index (BMI). A proprietary validated survey questionnaire was used to assess consumer awareness and assess eating habits Results. The subjects' nutritional status was examined by assessing their BMI. Most of the respondents had a BMI described as normal. Respondents mostly sometimes focused attention on the amount of calories consumed during the day, with 64.68% (N=130) of respondents giving this answer. Respondents cited health benefits (28.36%; N=57), energy value (20.40%; N=41), and taste (17.91%; N=36) as the most influential factor in choosing a particular sweetener. The study group's nutritional knowledge of sweeteners was unsatisfactory. Conclusions. Dietetics students' knowledge of sweeteners is alarmingly low. Most of the respondents had a BMI described as normal. In view of the low level of knowledge of the respondents, additional measures should be introduced resulting in an increase in the awareness of students in the described field, for example, increasing the number of lectures covering the above topics.