THE INFLUENCE OF EFFECTIVE FOOD, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, AND REGULAR EXERCISE ON SPORTS PERFORMANCE: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON ELITE ATHLETES IN ISLAMABAD

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the impact of regular physical exercise, dietary supplementation, and effective food consumption on the performance of young adults. A total of 65 participants aged between 15 and 40 years (Mean = 24.6 years, SD = 5.59) were enrolled and categorized into four groups: 1) Regular Exercises, 2) Dietary Supplements, 3) Effective Food, and 4) Control. The study utilized a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design to evaluate physical attributes such as explosive strength (via backward throw with a 3 kg medicine ball), agility (Agility T-Test), leg strength, speed (30-meter sprint), and endurance (800-meter run). Demographic analysis revealed that participants were predominantly single, belonged to joint family systems, and had educational backgrounds mostly at the middle and matriculation levels. The Regular Exercises group demonstrated the most substantial improvements, with statistically significant enhancement observed in backward throw performance (p < 0.001), agility (p = 0.045), and endurance (p = 0.027). Although leg strength and sprint performance also showed numerical improvement in this group, these changes were not statistically significant. The Dietary Supplements group exhibited a significant increase in endurance performance (p = 0.03), but did not show meaningful changes in other physical domains. The Effective Food group also demonstrated a notable improvement in endurance (p = 0.007) and borderline gains in backward throw (p = 0.05), though these changes were not consistently significant across all tests. The Control group exhibited no significant differences in any of the performance parameters, confirming the effectiveness of intervention-based improvements. Further statistical analysis using One-Way ANOVA and post hoc comparisons showed highly significant differences between the groups in post-intervention backward throw performance (F = 92.41, p = 0.000, ηp² = 0.82), with the Regular Exercises group significantly outperforming all others. Endurance performance also differed significantly between groups after the intervention (F = 4.2, p = 0.009, ηp² = 0.17), again favoring the Regular Exercises group. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in post-test sprint speed, leg strength, or agility among the Dietary Supplements, Effective Food, and Control groups. These findings showed the critical role of structured physical training in improving core fitness components such as strength, endurance, and agility. While dietary supplements and nutritional interventions may provide marginal support for physical performance, they are not a substitute for regular exercise. The study suggests that exercise-based programs should be prioritized in physical education curricula and fitness training modules to enhance overall athletic performance and well-being. Additionally, future research with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods could further validate these outcomes and explore synergistic effects of combining exercise with nutritional strategies.