Relationship between nutritional adequacy and anthropometric profile characteristics according to playing position in professional female soccer players: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Anthropometric characterization and somatotype profiling in professional soccer players are essential for understanding the morphofunctional demands associated with playing positions. OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare anthropometric profile and somatotype characteristics across playing positions in professional female soccer players, and to analyze their relationship with nutritional adequacy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 43 players from two First Division teams in Trujillo (Peru). Anthropometric measurements followed ISAK standards, and body composition was estimated using Kerr's five-component fractionation method. Somatotype was assessed using the Heath-Carter method. Nutritional adequacy was calculated according to playing position and international recommendations. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square tests, and Kendall's Tau correlations. Due to sample size, goalkeeper data (n = 4) were treated purely as a descriptive case series for correlational analyses. RESULTS: Goalkeepers presented significantly higher adipose mass (18.6 ± 2.5 kg) and muscle mass (33.1 ± 2.2 kg) than outfield players (p < 0.05; ε² ≥0.21). Nutritional adequacy differed significantly by position, with goalkeepers displaying a descriptive 100% prevalence of protein insufficiency. For outfield players, no significant associations were found between nutritional adequacy and body composition when stratified by position (p > 0.05). However, in the total sample, protein adequacy was inversely correlated with adipose mass (Tb = - 0.60, p < 0.001), and lipid adequacy was negatively associated with muscle mass (Tb = - 0.52, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although no position-specific associations were identified among outfielders, significant relationships emerged in the overall sample, suggesting that nutritional adequacy is significantly associated with body composition, appearing to be a relevant factor independently of tactical role.