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The dietary intakes of a Greek team of 21 élite football players were assessed in this study during the competitive season. Anthropometric measurements were taken for all athletes over three athletic seasons: the transitional (vacation), the training, and the competitive (games) season. The results showed that the mean body weight and the percentage body fat of the athletes decreased from the transitional to the training season. Differences in percentage body fat were found between players according to their position in the game. The offensive players had the lowest percentage body fat (11.4 per cent) and the goalkeepers, the highest (13.7 per cent). Although the mean energy intake of the athletes during the competitive season was above their calculated mean energy expenditure, six athletes were not in energy balance. Half of the athletes consumed carbohydrates in less than 50 per cent of their total energy intake, meaning that half the players had inadequate carbohydrate intakes, with a possible consequence of reduced performance. Furthermore, all athletes had higher than recommended fat intake. This study showed an urgent need to provide appropriate nutritional information in Greek athletic teams in order to improve the athletes’ diet and, consequently, their health and sports ability.

The pandemic of COVID-19 led to considerable challenges with respect to people's health, dietary behavior and satisfaction with life. This study aims to investigate perceived stress levels, in relation to diet quality and life satisfaction in Greek adults, during the COVID-19 lockdown.

This is a cross-sectional study which took place in Greece in the course of the strict lockdown period, in the third COVID-19 wave. A sample of 2,029 adults aged 18 years and above participated in an online survey. The questionnaire consisted of questions on sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics. The Perceived Stress Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Mediterranean Diet Assessment Tool were also used.

Linear regression has shown that women (p < 0.0001), younger individuals (p < 0.0001), obese individuals (p = 0.047), those with lower levels of satisfaction with life (p < 0.0001) and lower adherence to Mediterranean diet (p = 0.0001) were positively associated with higher levels of stress.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study conducted in Greece aiming at investigating concurrently, levels of perceived stress, with respect to levels of satisfaction with life and diet quality in adults, during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic.