Doctoral Theses / Doktorsavhandlingar Institutionen för kost- och idrottsvetenskap

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Å lære å undervise i kroppsøving. Design for utvikling av teoribasert undervisning og kritisk refleksjon i kroppsøvingslærerutdanningen
(2015-09-11) Kjerland, Glenn Øvrevik
Applying pedagogical theory in professional practice and developing critical awareness are important objectives in teacher education in Sweden. Current evidence indicates that these objectives are difficult to achieve in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE). Challenges that limit the students’ ability to apply pedagogical theory in teaching and execute critical reflection were used as objectives for designing and executing a project for learning and development. The aim of the study is to explore how a design that supports students’ development of theory-based teaching and critical reflection in PETE can be realized. Findings indicate that the students' became more aware of the necessity and value of using learning theories in PE teaching. The students’ different conceptualizations of theories and different assessments of theory-based teaching created challenges that oriented negotiations, collaborative learning processes and development of what the students’ meant were valid theory-based teaching concepts within the groups. Development of repertories of theory-based teaching concepts and using them for critical reflection led to discussions and critical analysis which revealed what the students’ meant were dominant teaching methods in PETE. When the differences between learning to teach in different settings and dominant teaching patterns were highlighted, they became resources for articulating and concretizing challenges which limit development of teaching competence in PETE. In one of the five groups these concretization processes led to ideas that may support learning to teach in the future.
An empowerment-based school physical activity intervention with adolescents in a disadvantaged community: A transformative mixed methods investigation
(2019-08-16) Jonsson, Linus
It is important for the health of adolescents to engage in regular physical activity. The majority of adolescents do not, however, engage in sufficient physical activity to meet contemporary guidelines, and adolescents of low socioeconomic status appear to be less physically active compared to adolescents of high socioeconomic status. As such, the overall aim of this thesis is twofold. First, the thesis aims to gain insight into adolescents’, from a multicultural community of low socioeconomic status, views on physical activity. Second, the thesis aims to describe and problematize the development and implementation of an empowerment-based school intervention, in a Swedish multicultural community of low socioeconomic status, and to evaluate the effects of the intervention focusing on basic needs satisfaction, motivation, and objectively measured physical activity. This compilation thesis is based on four papers and is written within the ‘How-to-Act?’-project which has its starting point in a two-year empowerment-based school intervention. For the purpose of the ‘How-to-Act?’-project, one intervention school (n=54 7th graders) and two control schools (n=60 7th graders), situated in a multicultural area of low socioeconomic status in Gothenburg, were recruited. For paper I and II, focus group interviews were conducted with adolescents (n=53) in the intervention school, before implementation of the intervention, to illuminate what they convey concerning factors that facilitate respectively undermine their physical activity. Paper III describes and problematizes the development and implementation of the empowerment-based school intervention, which was continuously developed and implemented through cooperation and shared decision making, focusing on physical activity. For paper IV physical activity was measured with accelerometers and basic needs satisfaction and motivation through questionnaires at baseline (7th grade), midpoint (8th grade), and endpoint (9th grade), to evaluate the effects of the intervention. On the one hand, the adolescents’ voices illuminated that, within their environment, it is difficult to establish healthy physical activity habits. More specifically, the adolescents expressed a profound awareness of tempting screen-based activities as undermining their physical activity, and several stereotypical gender norms were highlighted as undermining the girls’ physical activity. On the other hand, the adolescents mentioned that they enjoyed engaging in physical activity. According to the adolescents, enjoyment related to physical activity was promoted through variation and options, experiencing and developing physical skills, and the presence of peers. The adolescents also suggested that social support facilitated their physical activity, and proposed some ideas on how the school could become more supportive of their physical activity. Through the empowerment-based school intervention, the adolescents were offered opportunities to engage in a variety of physical activities and to assess and critically reflect upon health-related information and recommendations. Further, the intervention involved the adolescents in the decision-making process and thus, arguably, facilitated participation and empowerment. Nonetheless, the development and implementation of the intervention led to a number of ethical dilemmas that required cautious consideration. During the course of the two-year intervention, there was a credible decrease in controlled motivation, autonomous motivation, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. There were no credible effects of the intervention on controlled motivation, autonomous motivation, or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Future school-based physical activity interventions, in multicultural areas of low socioeconomic status, are recommended to include multidimensional intervention approaches across contexts to counteract the decline in physical activity during adolescence and to achieve lasting change in adolescents’ physical activity.
Education for Sustainable Food Consumption in Home and Consumer Studies
(2018-02-08) Gisslevik, Emmalee
Education as a means to enable sustainable food consumption has gained increasing recognition as a vital means to decrease current burdens upon both natural resources and human health. In response, the Swedish compulsory school subject of home and consumer studies, which positions education about food as core content, has been revised to incorporate in its national syllabus a perspective of sustainable development since 2011. However, because sustainable development remains an ambiguous, contested concept with a range of definitions and interpretations, it is necessary to gain better understanding of what incorporating its perspective can entail in home and consumer studies, particularly regarding the core food-related content knowledge that it teaches. Building upon four papers, this thesis reports research guided by an interpretive and exploratory approach that involved analysing data from syllabuses, observations, recordings of in-class lessons and interviews with practising teachers. The results reveal two ways of understanding what incorporating a perspective of sustainable development can entail in home and consumer studies in Sweden. The first understanding proposes an enriched and unified practice in which the curriculum prioritises embodied forms of knowledge about healthy, ethical and resource-efficient food consumption by allowing a multi-relational, systems thinking approach while focusing a homemade meal practice. By contrast, the second understanding proposes a practice riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions in providing teaching and learning opportunities to attain the intended goals. This ultimately results in fragmented learning opportunities focused more on informed reasoning than on informed actions. Taken together, both understandings pose theoretical, conceptual and practical implications, both for home and consumer studies in particular and in education for sustainable food consumption in general.
Estimating added and free sugars intake in Swedish adolescents - methods, food sources, nutritional implications, and potential food label impact
(2025-03-07) Wanselius, Julia
Excessive intakes of added and free sugars are associated with several adverse health effects. However, due to an absence of objective or standardised methods to measure intake, there is limited knowledge about consumption, including in Swedish adolescents. Adolescence is a critical period for establishing healthy dietary habits, as food patterns formed during these years often persist into adulthood, influencing longterm health. Dietary habits of Swedish adolescents overall fail to meet dietary guidelines. The adolescent diet is generally low in vegetables and fruit, dietary fibre and wholegrains, alongside high in saturated fats, salt, and sugars. Despite these concerns, intake levels of added or free sugars have not previously been quantified in Swedish adolescents. The overarching aim of this doctoral thesis is to examine dietary intake in Swedish adolescents, emphasising added and free sugars intake. This includes refining methods for estimating intake, identifying contributing food sources, investigating contextual and dietary associations, as well as the potential nutritional impact of the Keyhole symbol in guiding healthier food choices. The thesis builds on the findings of four original papers, each addressing a specific research aim and contributing unique insights to the thesis. The thesis presents a systematic approach to quantifying added and free sugars intake, applied to the Swedish Food Agency’s nationally representative dietary survey Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-17. Main findings are that, on average, Swedish adolescents were over-consuming added and free sugars with respect to dietary guidelines; 45% respectively 30% had a lower daily intake of added respectively free sugars than the maximal recommended intake. Main sources of sugars were foods with low nutritional content, with major contributors in sugarsweetened beverages, sweets and chocolates. Intakes of added and free sugars were higher during weekends, and the sugars were mostly consumed outside of main meals, predominantly within the home environment. Furthermore, higher intakes of added and free sugars were observed to be associated with progressively less favourable dietary intakes. A shift to Keyhole alternatives for everyday foods would improve adolescents’ overall nutrient intakes, even with smaller exchanges. However, the impact on reducing sugars were limited as most contributing sources are not eligible for labelling. As a few nutritionally poor food groups are the primary sources of added and free sugars in the adolescent diet, refining dietary guidelines to target these specific foods rather than emphasising sugars reduction alone could enhance clarity and effectiveness in public health communication.
Extrem jakt på hälsa. En explorativ studie om ortorexia nervosa.
(2016-01-15) Håman, Linn
Orthorexia nervosa was termed by the physician, Bratman, in the late 1990s. He defined it as an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food to achieve ‘optimal’ health. The term has since received attention in science and media, including in Sweden. Yet, orthorexia remains under establishment, as many symptoms, explanations and behaviors are being related to it. This thesis builds on four articles that create understanding of the term and phenomenon. The overall aim is to elucidate, explore and problematize how orthorexia nervosa is described, understood and reported. The thesis follows a sequential mixed method design. The empirical data consist of survey responses from 251 fitness participants, research findings from 19 empirical and theoretical scientific articles, newspaper texts from 166 Swedish daily newspaper articles, and responses provided by 14 personal trainers (PTs) in five focus group interviews. The findings demonstrate two versions of understanding orthorexia. The Swedish newspapers frame and PTs understand orthorexia to include excessive and obsessive approaches to food and eating, unhealthy and excessive exercise, and an extreme pursuit of a fit body. These characteristics create a Swedish popular version, which conflates orthorexia with exercise dependence and differs from Bratman’s definition. It further differs from scientific knowledge because this version does not include unhealthy and excessive exercise and does not provide consensus on corporeality. Indeed, the scientific knowledge remains limited and disparate. Nevertheless, both versions can be understood as a consequence of ‘aggressive healthism’.
Food, body weight, and health among adolescents in the digital age: An explorative study from a health promotion perspective
(2018-04-16) Holmberg, Christopher
The overall aim of this thesis was to explore adolescents’ relationship with food, body weight, and health communication in online digital media, as well as how adolescents experience participating in a health promotion intervention regarding food and physical activity habits. Health promotion as a research area served three purposes: to inform the research questions, to direct the data collection, and to identify implications from the research findings. The four included studies explored how adolescents portray food in a widely used image-sharing application, why and how adolescents in treatment for obesity engaged with online health-related information, and how these adolescents experienced presenting themselves on social media. The fourth study explored adolescents’ experiences of participating in a healthpromoting intervention, focusing on their experiences of using a social media group within the intervention. Overall, the findings suggest that food is a significant means of adolescents’ online self-presentation practices. Food imagery was most often communicated in a positive way, associated with commercial elements, and often depicting high-calorie foods. Adolescents with obesity experienced this user-generated food content as challenging for their weight management. These findings also question the separation between media and information content as stated in the original definition of eHealth literacy. The findings also emphasize a need to explore the adolescents’ own experiences of acceptability of using social media in health promotion practices, with regards to the type of social media and in what context it was or could be used.
Framåt Marsch! Ridlärarrollen från dåtid till samtid med perspektiv på framtid
(2017-02-23) Thorell, Gabriella
Swedish riding schools are characterized by a traditional stable culture that originated in army practices. The riding instructors reinforce these military traditions. Nevertheless, riding instructors and riding schools cannot be isolated and unaffected by society. This thesis identifies and highlights perceptions of the riding instructor’s role and the historical and contemporary conditions that govern and affect this role. Constructions of perceptions and experiences have been central. The selection of the theoretical framework and methodology were to emerge during the process, and by using different research methods the ambition was to strengthen reliability and increase quality. The first study examines how the Swedish National Equestrian Centre at Strömsholm (SNECS) trains riding instructors with a focus on content and the educational environment to understand the educational culture that exists at Swedish riding schools. The second study explored how ten riding instructors perceive and experience their professional role. The third study explored, through focus group interviews, young riders’ perception of the riding school. This thesis has contributed to a deeper understanding of the role of the riding instructor. The result explains why riding schools are still characterized by military norms. The contemporary perspective highlighted how the riding instructors perceived a change based on economic challenges and how these challenges affected their way of teaching. Young rider's perceptions of riding school showed how they develop social skills by participating in the riding school’s community of practice. In conclusion, these results can help strengthen the riding instructor profession and develop the riding school as a centre of knowledge and resources. To encourage further development, the profession should consider current stable culture, how learning takes place in the riding school, and the needs for further education.
Game demands and fatigue profiles in elite football – an individual approach -Implications for training and recovery strategies
(2019-04-12) Fransson, Dan
The physical activities performed during a football game are of intermittent prolonged character, including explosive actions and running at different speeds. The prolonged intermittent activities are conjoined with periods where physical intensity is markedly increased. The intense periods and prolonged activities affect the physiological and metabolic systems which provoke fatigue both temporarily throughout the game as well as towards the end of a game. Therefore, physical training in football should aim to reach physiological and metabolic adaptations to be able to resist fatigue in order to perform optimally throughout the game. Furthermore, post-game recovery and restoration of performance seems to be a slow process. Physical game demands, training responses and recovery can vary largely between players and needs to be studied with individual emphasis. The aim of the thesis is to improve the understanding of physical game demands, fatigue profiles in male elite football players with an emphasis on individual differences and implications for fitness training strategies. Running distance and in-game fatigue profiles were investigated through an analysis of game activity data from top-class football players (n = 473). Post-game fatigue and recovery profiles were examined using maximum voluntary contraction in various muscle groups after a simulated football model in competitive players (n = 12). Inter-individual relations between physical game demands and physical response in different small-sided game formats were investigated with global positioning system techniques on professional players (n = 45). Finally, muscular adaptations and physical performance responses of two different training protocols (four weeks of small-sided games or speed endurance training) were examined by means of pre- and post-intervention muscle biopsies and performance tests on 39 competitive football players. The results demonstrated that all playing positions indicate temporary fatigue after intense periods during a football game. However, after shorter intense periods central defenders were the only position that did not show a decline in running performance. A large inter-player variation in running performance between and within playing positions was found. Post-game fatigue showed large inter-player differences between various muscle groups and between players. Muscle performance in all investigated groups had recovered within 24 hours post-game except trunk-muscles, which was back to baseline values within 48 hours post-game. The physical response in small-sided game formats differed from game demands on an individual level. High intensity training was more potent in up-regulating muscle oxidative capacity and physical performance compared to small-sided games. In conclusion, individual differences in game demands and fatigue profiles are large and need to be considered when planning training. Small-sided games seem not to be the most appropriate training method to meet the individual game demands of all individual players. Thus, in order to increase exercise performance and associated physiological adaptations, additional high-intensity training should be considered for some individual football players.
Hälsocoach i skolan - En utvärderande fallstudie av en hälsofrämjande intervention
(2016-05-27) Hedström, Pernilla
Today young school children in Sweden spend less time taking part in physical activities, compared to what they did 15-20 years ago. Physical activity is a major health component, which can make children maintain or increase their health. Earlier research has shown that a minimum of 60-90 minutes a day of physical activity is needed for young children to develop good health. The purpose of this study is to explore a longitudinal (two years) health coach intervention, focusing on the effects and experiences of expanded physical activities in an elementary school, managed by a health coach. The research team planned the health coach intervention based on the theoretical model; Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model (YPAPM). In the study, quantitative and qualitative data have been collected over a period of two years. Analysis has shown that the health promotion activities attracted even those children who usually do not like the PE classes. These children like playful activities where they can feel athletic competent and involved. The Health Coach project did not significantly improve the students' healthy lifestyles, at least not in the short term, even if the children had gained new insights about how to promote their own health. This study has shown that a health coach in school could be needed, but this position needs to be full-time, because it requires more efforts to increase children's physical activity. It is also important that the health coach has the right qualification and receive support from the head master and from the class teachers.
How to Make Bicycling Safer - Identification and Prevention of Serious Injuries among Bicyclists
(2019-08-28) Ohlin, Maria
The overall aim of this thesis was to guide current and future safety improvements that address serious injuries among bicyclists. The thesis is compiled by four studies, of which the first two aimed to identify injuries leading to loss of health from a biopsychosocial perspective, and the two following studies aimed to understand how these injuries occur and how they can be prevented. Study I investigated health-related quality of life (HRQoL), based on the EQ-5D questionnaire, while Study II investigated sickness absence (SA), following a bicycle crash. On a general level, the injuries associated with problems in HRQoL and long-term SA included mainly fractures of the hip and upper leg, fractures of the lower leg and ankle, fractures of the upper arm, fractures and sprains of the shoulder, traumatic brain injuries, and fractures and strains to the spine. Study III found that the majority (68%) of such injuries occurred in single bicycle crashes, and further 17% in collisions with motor vehicles. In Study IV it was shown that the current Swedish safety performance indicators related to cycling could address up to 22% of crashes involving injuries associated with problems in HRQoL and long term SA. In addition to the current safety performance indicators, the following five actions should be the focus of more rapid implementation: autonomous emergency braking with cyclist detection on passenger cars, extended maintenance to include all urban roads used for cycling, improved design of curbstones, and to separate cyclists from both motor vehicles and pedestrians. Overall, this thesis highlights that additional interventions targeting single bicycle crashes need to be prioritised by road authorities in order to prevent health loss among bicyclists.
Idrotten sätter agendan. En studie av Riksidrottsgymnasietränares handlande utifrån sitt dubbla uppdrag
(2014-11-14) Hedberg, Marie
This study aims to describe and analyse the actions of the school coaches at the National sport upper secondary schools in light of the conditions that govern and shape the activities at those schools. The theoretical standpoints are based on Lave and Wengers' (1991) theoretical concept community of practice, and as an explanatory theoretical framework Scott's (2008) interpretation of new institutional theory is used. In the analysis of the coaches’ space for actions given the current conditions, Berg's (2014) free space theory is used. The study has a qualitative approach and the design is based on four case studies, where interviews and document analyses have been used to produce the data. The main findings can be summarized in that the cultural-cognitive conditions are very strong, whereas the regulatory and normative conditions play a less significant role. The coaches belong to a community of practice, where the sport’s inherent culture becomes the reference point for how the practice will be run, even though they are part of the school.
Idrottsprofilerad utbildning - i spåren av en avreglerad skola
(2014-08-29) Ferry, Magnus
This thesis aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the Swedish school sports system, a system which has evolved since the beginning of the 1970s, the prevalence of which has increased significantly at all school levels since the mid-1990s and today attracts a large number of pupils and teachers. Starting with the neoliberal discourse which has had a major impact on the development of the Swedish school system, and inspired by Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical framework, the reasons for the emergence of the school sports system and the reasons why schools chose to specialise in sport is described. Also examined are the pupils and teachers involved and the mechanics behind their participation. Empirically, this thesis is based on registry data, telephone interviews with principals at schools offering school sports and questionnaires responses from pupils and teachers involved in school sports. The results of the thesis suggest that the main reason school sports has become so common is closely connected to increased competition on the local school market; by offering school sports, schools have found a possible way to attract more pupils. Furthermore, the results show that the social characteristics of pupils who have been selected or have chosen to participate in school sports differs from the national population of pupils and participants in sports clubs. This suggests that the available supply of school sports is better adapted to some pupils’ social backgrounds and habitus. In relation to the teachers involved, the results show that other resources than what is normally required to become a teacher is valued in school sports. Instead of a teacher certificate, a coaching education and experiences in competitive sport is valued highly which suggests that this is recognised as symbolic capital for teachers in school sports. In conclusion this thesis demonstrates that school sports is influenced by both the fields of education and sport, and that the increased supply of school sports has implications for both fields.
Interdisciplinary research and youth sport injury: Developing methodological insights
(2024-10-04) Hausken-Sutter, Solveig E. S.
Recognising sport injuries as complex phenomena has urged calls for alternative research approaches to better understand their causes. Instead of adhering to traditional research approaches only, scholars advocate for a methodological pluralism, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods and integrating knowledge from different disciplines. Such integrated approaches offer a more comprehensive understanding of sport injuries by addressing their multifaceted and intricate nature. While integrated research approaches in sport science are gaining momentum, their focus has primarily centred on adult athlete health. However, given the prevalence of youth sport injuries and their significant consequences, it is necessary to develop effective approaches for studying them. Moreover, there is a lack of best practices for how to integrate methods and knowledge from different disciplines in youth sport injury research. Addressing these gaps is crucial for informing comprehensive injury prevention interventions. The overall aim of this thesis is to explore and explain the methodological insights that can be gained from conducting interdisciplinary youth sport injury research. Three research questions guide the thesis: 1) What is the base of existing disciplinary knowledge on youth sport injuries and how does this knowledge shape the understanding of youth sport injuries? 2) What contextual and methodological issues are important to consider in interdisciplinary youth sport injury research? 3) How can qualitative and quantitative youth sport injury data be integrated in an interdisciplinary research process? The thesis incorporates four journal papers and presents these in the following framework text embedding the conducted research papers into a broader theoretical perspective. The four central papers are: a research protocol paper, a narrative review of literature, a paper describing the adaption and application of a questionnaire to youth football players, and a methodological paper focusing on the integration of qualitative and quantitative youth sport injury data as part of an interdisciplinary research process. All of these papers were developed within the interdisciplinary research project ‘Injury-free children and adolescents: Towards better practice in Swedish football (FIT project)’. The thesis has generated three broad insights that correspond to the research questions. First, existing knowledge on youth sport injuries stems from several fields, including biomedicine, sport psychology and sport sociology, underscoring the complex and interdisciplinary nature of youth sport injuries. Second, contextual factors significantly impact youth sport injuries, making it necessary for future researchers to account for these influences when developing research tools and addressing ethical concerns during the interdisciplinary research process. Third, integration of qualitative and quantitative youth sport injury data is facilitated through a three-stage procedure that enables common ground, a comparison of different types of data, and dialogue across disciplinary boundaries. Overall, the thesis showcases three vital components crucial to interdisciplinary research: Synthesisation, contextualisation, and integration. The thesis also highlights the need for further exploration of interdisciplinary practices’ possibilities and limitations related to integration and their application in developing complex injury prevention interventions.
Lärande av rörelseförmåga i idrott och hälsa ur ett praktikutvecklande perspektiv
(2019-04-25) Bergentoft, Heléne
The aim of this investigation was to explore how the connections between teaching and learning about movement capability in the school subject physical education and health can be developed and transferred through research in practice development. Three research questions guided the investigation (1) What areas regarding teaching of movement capability in the school subject physical education and health have been studied in relation to teachers’ teaching assignment? (2) What necessary prerequisites are required to systematize and transfer research in practice development on movement capability between educational contexts? (3) What linkages are made visible between the treatment of learning content, the teaching design and students’ learning through variation in lesson design? Cultural-historical perspective and variation theory were used as frameworks and the methodology, mixed method research. The empirical data consists of published articles, video-observed lessons, recorded meetings with teachers and students, pre- and post-tests. The findings position the thesis in a guided teaching perspective. Moreover, findings show how the connection between teaching and learning about movement capability systematically can be developed and transferred between teaching contexts through iterative processes with revised lessons based on students’ knowledge. By the use of variation theory, understanding of the meaning of movement capability became more nuanced and itemized. The results also illustrate how the collaboration between teachers and researchers generated development of science-based teaching of movement capability.
Mästarcoacherna. Att bli, vara och utvecklas som tränare inom svensk elitfotboll
(2016-04-08) Meckbach, Susanne
This thesis aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of what it means to learn to become, be and develop as a coach in Swedish male professional football. The theoretical framework is inspired by sociocultural perspectives on learning and the theory of situated learning, particularly Lave and Wengers’ (2005) concept legitimate peripheral participation and parts of Wenger’s (1998) concept communities of practice. In the analysis of the coaches’ perceptions I have used Nielsen and Kvales’ (2000) characteristics of learning resources in communities of practice and some concepts that belong to the sociocultural tradition and the theory of situated learning; legitimate peripheral participation, shared repertoire, situated identities, scaffolding and more capable. Empirically, the thesis is based on semistructured interviews with ten head coaches of teams in superettan or allsvenskan, the two highest football’s leagues in Sweden. The main findings can be summarized in that the coaches’ teams, including assistant coaches and, e.g., fitness coaches, etc., are important for the coaches’ learning and for them to manage an expanded leadership, tough employment conditions and large external demands of success. The coaches’ interaction with each other in the teams also means that they have great opportunities to form primary communities of practice, where large parts of their learning take place. Inexperienced coaches can accordingly be supported in their learning in a community of practice to which he belongs, but important is also that the coach education supports the coaches’ learning, for example through a focus on leadership issues and analysis of the football game.
Nordic stakeholders and sustainable catering
(2011-02-03) Post, Anna
Sustainability deficits in modern food systems are widely reported and changes in food habits towards more sustainable eating patterns, including eating seasonal and locally produced food, have been suggested to minimise the environmental impact of food consumption and production. By means of national programmes and recommendations, the Nordic countries have taken the initiative for public catering to use local, organic and seasonal food in an attempt to create a healthier and more sustainable catering sector. But the problem is obvious, that sustainability action is not prioritised or sufficiently implemented everywhere and although the ‘eating out phenomenon’ is increasing every year, very little research has focused on sustainability action in the catering sector. The overall aim of this thesis is to analyse and discuss crucial factors for progress in sustainable catering as well as to establish a systems approach in research on food systems. Based on system thinking analysis of a Swedish survey and telephone interviews with stakeholders in the Nordic countries, crucial factors for sustainable catering can be linked to insufficient communication, ideological dilemmas due to conflicting messages but also to language deficiencies between stakeholders and other actors in the food system. System thinking would make it easier to make visible different stakeholders’ views concerning sustainable catering but also to better understand the whole picture. Stakeholders such as professional food purchasers and procurers are important in the process but do not have the tools to handle the conflicting message between economical and environmental directives. Knowledge of how the concept of sustainable development is constructed will facilitate work on achieving sustainable catering.
Nutrition in Olympic Combat Sports. Elite athletes’ dietary intake, hydration status and experiences of weight regulation
(2013-03-22) Pettersson, Stefan
There are a number of sports in which competition is conducted with weight limits or weight classes. In one-on-one combative sport, such rules are enforced to create an equal playing level and minimize the risk of injury between opponents. The prevailing attitude among competitive combat sports athletes is that a performance advantage will be gained by rapidly losing weight thus competing against a lighter and smaller opponent. However, rapid weight loss by voluntary dehydration can have implications for health and performance. The aim of this thesis is to improve the understanding of weight-regulation practices of elite combat sports athletes. This is investigated by means of interviews emphasising on Swedish national team athletes’ (n=14) perceptions and experiences of the phenomenon, and by cross sectional data (n=68) on hydration status and dietary intake collected at six different competitions in the 4 Olympic combat sports of wrestling, taekwondo, judo, and boxing. The qualitative research demonstrated that athletes practice weight regulation not only to gain a physical advantage over opponents but also for purposes of identity, mental advantage, and mental diversion. However, negative experiences including physiological needs and opposing ideals related to dietary- and weight-making practices were also displayed. The dietary and weight conflicts were most prominent close to competition. The hydration status measured at the morning of competition day demonstrated that almost half of the participants were categorized as seriously hypohydrated despite high water intake. Time for recovery was not significantly related to hydration status but athletes with shorter recovery time tended to be seriously hypohydrated to a greater extent than athletes competing under rules allowing for extended recovery time. Furthermore, a large proportion of the participants consumed a diet below current sport nutrition recovery guidelines regarding energy-yielding macronutrients. The main findings of this work demonstrate that weight regulation in combat sports is practiced in such a magnitude and intensity that it brings about negative physical and psychological consequences. Stricter weigh-in regulations might hinder rapid weight-loss practises but such actions will not solve the problem entirely. To manage stricter rules, nutritional counselling might be of further importance. Moreover, the mental benefits currently ascribed to weight regulation should be considered.
Opportunities and challenges with the shift to climate-adapted food consumption: Balancing nutrition, climate impact, and acceptance in public and private meals
(2025-04-08) Wollmar, Mari
This thesis explores the transition toward climate-adapted food consumption, combining insights from both public and private domains. Through four studies, the thesis investigates the balance between reducing carbon footprint (CO2e) and ensuring nutritional adequacy, revealing overlooked tensions in our shift toward sustainable diets. Rather than presenting findings by individual studies, this thesis organizes results around three interrelated themes that emerged across all four papers. The first theme examines school meals as potential climate champions, revealing both opportunities and challenges in public meal settings. The second theme explores how gender shapes nutritional needs and dietary behaviors in climate-adapted food practices. The third theme investigates the relationship between physical activity levels and CO2e, identifying pathways to unite active lifestyles with sustainability. In school meal menus across Sweden, climate adaptation is taking center stage. Yet beneath these well-intentioned changes lies an unexpected nutritional dilemma. The analysis of municipal school meal programs revealed a troubling relationship, as CO2e emissions decreased, iron bioavailability declined as well. This finding raises important questions about the nutritional adequacy of climate adapted menus, especially for adolescent girls. The paradox became particularly evident in soy-based meals. These meals contained the highest total iron, simultaneously they had the lowest amount of absorbable iron, with minimal bioavailability. None of the analyzed menus provided enough absorbable iron for female pupils with higher needs, highlighting how climate-adapted meal planning may inadvertently create nutritional blind spots. To address this challenge, hybrid recipe formulations that bridged the divide between climate goals and nutritional needs was developed. By combining plant ingredients with modest amount of meat together with vitamin C rich foods, these recipes achieved significant CO2e reductions while maintaining adequate absorbable iron levels. Consumer evaluations revealed that these hybrid approaches maintained high acceptance levels, suggesting that balancing nutrition, taste, and sustainability is entirely possible. Throughout this thesis, gender emerged as a powerful lens for understanding sustainable food transitions. A consistent pattern appeared: women demonstrated stronger climate consciousness in their food consumption but faced greater nutritional vulnerabilities when adopting low-carbon diets. Female participants consistently consumed less energy than recommended, creating a nutritional deficit that impacts micronutrient intake. This was especially pronounced among physically active women, who averaged well below their estimated requirements. This is concerning given their elevated nutritional needs. When examining iron specifically, women’s intake fell below recommendations regardless of dietary preference, with vegetarian and flexitarian diets presenting additional challenges. Gender dynamics significantly shape sustainable food practices beyond just nutritional aspects. The thesis corroborate that women typically lead household shifts toward climate-friendly diets while experiencing more complicated relationships with food choices compared to men. Paradoxically, despite consuming fewer resources and making more climate conscious selections, women experience a greater risk of nutritional deficiencies and health impacts when households transition to sustainable diets. The investigation of recreational athletes and young adults uncovered a clear relationship of dietary CO2e emissions to activity level, with CrossFit athletes exhibiting the highest CO2e emissions, followed by other highly-active individuals and moderately-active participants. The primary driver was not simply higher energy requirements but specifically how these needs were met, predominantly through animal-based protein sources. Yet high CO2e emissions was not inevitable. Several participants achieved notably lower CO2e while maintaining high performance levels through strategic incorporation of plant-based protein sources. These examples challenge the assumption that athletic performance necessarily demands a high environmental cost, suggesting that the barrier lies not in physiological requirements but in cultural norms and established beliefs about nutrition within sports communities. The findings question the assumption that low-carbon diets automatically promote health for all populations. The research shows that sustainable food systems require tailored approaches that consider gender-specific nutritional needs, diverse activity levels, and cultural contexts. The successful hybrid recipes and examples of low-CO2e athletic diets demonstrate that balancing environmental and nutritional goals is achievable with thoughtful planning. The path toward truly sustainable food systems must integrate bioavailability metrics into environmental assessments and address the social practices that shape our food choices. Only then can we create equitable transitions that protect both planetary boundaries and human wellbeing—especially for those leading the way in climate-conscious eating.
Overuse injuries in Swedish elite athletics - Incidence, occurrence, athlete availability, and risk factors
(2021-02-05) Lundberg Zachrisson, Andreas
The overall aim of this thesis was to explore three aspects of overuse injuries in elite Swedish athletics. The thesis is compiled of four papers, of which the first one is a study protocol. Paper II (n=58) aimed to gain knowledge about overuse injury characteristics, and Paper III (n=59) aimed to estimate the seasonal distribution of overuse injuries and the consequences for athletes. Paper IV (n=96) evaluated potential risk factors and their relation to overuse injury. Athletes were followed prospectively during one Swedish athletics season. Injuries were diagnosed and recorded with the help of medical professionals. At enrollment, all athletes conducted a baseline screening consisting of a clinical examination, running analysis and strength tests. Male and female Swedish elite athletics athletes were recruited in Gothenburg from four event groups: middle/long distance runners, sprinters, jumpers, and throwers. All athletes were asked to fill out and submit training documentation on a monthly basis during the season. Paper II aimed to describe the incidence proportion, injury onset, injury location, and injury severity of overuse injuries during a Swedish athletics season. The overall incidence proportion for the cohort was 72.4%, with 64.8% of all injuries being categorized as injuries with a gradual onset caused by overuse and 35.2% of all injuries with a sudden onset caused by overuse. Ninety percent of recorded injuries during the study period were located at the lower extremities. The majority of injuries were located at the thigh/hip, followed by the foot/shank. Most injuries sustained by the cohort were severe, with 53.5% of injuries leading to a total or partial time-loss from training and competition of at least 28 days. In paper III, the results showed that the majority of injuries occurred in October followed by December and April. The overall incidence rate per 1000 hours of athletics training was 1.81 for the cohort, and a moderate athlete availability of 78% for the season with a large individual variability. In paper IV certain risk factors were identified. More specifically, athletes with an injury at the thigh/hip show a slower knee flexion velocity compared with athletes not injured at the thigh/hip. In conclusion, Swedish elite athletics athletes suffer from a high incidence of overuse injuries that most likely affect their potential to perform at a high level during the season. The majority of injuries are sustained at the beginning of the season during the first conditioning phase. Thus, to decrease the number of injuries, future research should focus on further investigating the athletes’ training volume and training intensity and the possible association to overuse injury.
Physical Activity among Adolescents in a Swedish Multicultural Area - An Empowerment-Based Health Promotion School Intervention
(2018-05-22) Fröberg, Andreas
The overarching aim of the present thesis was two-fold. The first aim was to describe and critically reflect upon the experiences of developing and implementing an empowerment-based school intervention, focusing on food and physical activity, involving adolescents from a Swedish multicultural area characterized by low socioeconomic status. The second aim was to investigate accelerometer-measured sedentary time and physical activity among the adolescents, and to evaluate the effects of the intervention on these variables. The two-year intervention was continually developed and implemented, as a result of cooperation and shared decision making among researchers and the participating adolescents. Data was collected in seventh, eighth and ninth grade using documentation and observation protocols, accelerometers, and questionnaires. This thesis shows the importance of acquiring a broad and deep understanding of the targeted context and the participants of the intervention, and to be open-minded when it comes to negotiating, adjusting, and reorganizing empowerment-based interventions. This thesis further shows that the participating girls accumulated more sedentary time and less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than boys, and that approximately half of the adolescents met the physical activity recommendations. The intervention had no positive effects on sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Finally, this thesis shows that cautiousness is warranted when cross-comparing accelerometer-based studies with different epoch durations and cut-points.

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