Evaluation of the nutrition knowledge of sports department students of universities

Nutrition Knowledge Among Students in an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Is Inadequate and Associated With Residence

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the nutrition knowledge and dietary habits of students at an Historically Black College and University.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey with 297 participants was conducted online using Qualtrics. An adapted questionnaire was used to obtain general nutrition knowledge. Descriptive analyses and binary logistic regression were conducted.

RESULTS

The average nutrition knowledge score was 55.0% ± 46.9%, indicating inadequacy, and was significantly associated with dietary habits (P < 0.017). Nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with age, ethnicity, marital status, work status, and residence (P < 0.05). Consumer and dietary habits scored 3.1 ± 1.6 out of 5, with the lowest score for choosing fat-free or low-fat milk. Residence significantly predicted nutrition knowledge; students living with family exhibited higher odds (odds ratio, 7.21; 95% confidence interval, 2.13-24.39) of adequate knowledge compared with those in the campus residence hall.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

These findings can guide nutrition interventions for college students, with future research needed to explore how residence impacts nutrition knowledge and habits.

Assessment of the General Nutrition Knowledge of Students from the University of Novi Sad (Vojvodina, Serbia)

Background: Healthy nutrition is necessary for a good quality of life and reduction in the risk of developing diseases. Research indicates that students do not usually have healthy eating habits. Knowledge about nutrition, dietary guidelines, food groups and the nutrients they contain, the selection and adequate preparation of food, and the health consequences of unhealthy nutrition can influence the eating habits of students. Until recently, no research had been conducted on university-level students' nutrition knowledge in Serbia. The aim of this study was to determine the nutrition knowledge of students from the University of Novi Sad (Vojvodina, Serbia) in relation to gender, year of study, academic field of study, and nutritional status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from December 2021 to July 2022, on 898 students (72.9% female and 27.1% male, with an average age of 22.87 ± 3.092). An online survey questionnaire was used as the research instrument. An assessment of nutrition knowledge was performed using the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ) for the following domains: dietary recommendations; food groups and the nutrients they contain; healthy food choices; and diet, disease and weight associations. Results: Significant differences in students' assessed knowledge levels were determined across various domains of healthy nutrition. The highest level of nutrition knowledge was in healthy food choices, and the lowest was in understanding food groups and nutrient composition. The total determined knowledge about healthy nutrition correlated most with self-assessed knowledge of food groups, and least with knowledge of dietary recommendations. Female gender and higher years of study were associated with higher nutrition knowledge. Students from the Faculty of Medicine had the highest nutrition knowledge, followed by students from the Faculty of Technology and the Faculty of Science, compared to students from other faculties. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for targeted interventions aimed at improving students' understanding of specific nutritional concepts, ultimately empowering them to make informed dietary decisions for lifelong health and wellbeing.

Validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire to determine dietary intakes among Lebanese athletes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Nutrition is a basic need for athletes; thus, adequate dietary intake is crucial for maintaining overall health, facilitating training adaptations and boosting athletic performance. Accurate dietary assessment tools are required to minimize the challenges faced by athletes. This study verifies the validity and reproducibility of a 157 item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among Lebanese athletes. This is the only Arabic questionnaire in Lebanon that estimates food consumption for athletes which can also be used in Arabic speaking countries. There has been no previous validated food frequency questionnaire that estimated food consumption for athletes in Lebanon.

METHODS

A total of 194 athletes were included in the study to assess the validity of the food frequency questionnaire against four days dietary recalls by comparing the total nutrient intake values from the food frequency questionnaire with the mean values of four 24-hour dietary recalls using Spearman correlation coefficient and Bland Altman plots. In order to measure the reproducibility, the intra class correlation coefficients were calculated by repeating the same food frequency questionnaire after one month.

RESULTS

The intra-class correlation coefficient between the two-food frequency questionnaires ranged from average (0.739 for carbohydrates) to good (0.870 for energy (Kcal)), to excellent (0.919 for proteins) concerning macronutrients and ranged from average (0.688 for vitamin D), to excellent (0.952 for vitamin B12), indicating an acceptable reproducibility. Spearman's correlation coefficients of dietary intake estimate from the food frequency questionnaire and the four dietary recalls varied between 0.304 for sodium, 0.469 for magnesium to 0.953 for caloric intake (kcal). Bland-Altman plots illustrated a percentage of agreement ranging between 94.3% for fats to 96.4% for proteins.

CONCLUSION

This food frequency questionnaire has a reliable validity and reproducibility to evaluate dietary assessments and is an appropriate tool for future interventions to ensure the adoption of adequate eating strategies by athletes.

Knowledge, Prevalence, and Consequences of Dietary Supplements Intake among Iranian Bodybuilders

Background

This study investigated the nutritional knowledge and prevalence of dietary supplements (DSs) among Iranian bodybuilders.

Methods

This cross-sectional research study involved sampling 648 bodybuilding clubs in Iran. A researcher distributed questionnaires among clubs in various regions and analyzed categorical variables, DS, nutritional knowledge, and sports nutrition data from 160 bodybuilders aged 18 and above in Iran. The analysis was conducted using the results obtained from a quantitative questionnaire.

Results

There was a significant relationship between DS use and gender (P = 0.001, r = 0.330, males > females), bodybuilding history (P = 0.045; r = 0.158), and exercise sessions/wk (P = 0.050, r = 0.156). Whey protein (45.6%) and branched-chain amino acid (33.7%), vitamin D (50%), caffeine (34.3%), and generally vitamin C (56.2%) were the most common DS used. The most information sources for bodybuilders regarding DS were fitness coaches (35.6%) and registered dietitians/nutritionists (34.3%). Drug stores (36.7%) and fitness coaches (19.3%) were the most prominent sources for purchasing DS. Increasing performance (54.3%), increasing the need for DS through exercise (53.6%), preventing injury, and improving recovery (36.2%) were the most important reasons to consume DS. Skin problems (21.0%), increased liver enzymes (10.8%), and hair loss (9.4%) were the most common side effects of DS use. Total nutritional knowledge (macronutrients, micronutrients, and sports nutrition) was 58.6%.

Conclusions

This study concluded that fitness coaches and registered dietitians/nutritionists were the most common information sources for bodybuilders. It also revealed a moderate level of nutrition knowledge among bodybuilders. The most commonly used DS were vitamins C, D, and whey protein. Also, gender, bodybuilding history, and exercise sessions had a significant relationship with the prevalence of DS. However, the study also revealed some concerning findings; bodybuilders commonly experienced adverse side effects such as skin rashes, increased liver enzymes, and hair loss.

Adolescent athletes have better general than sports nutrition knowledge and lack awareness of supplement recommendations: a systematic literature review

Nutrition knowledge (NK) impacts food choices and may be improved through educational programmes. Identifying knowledge gaps related to NK among adolescent athletes may guide future nutrition education programmes. This review aimed to systematically review the level of NK in adolescent athletes based on the currently available published literature. The protocol for this review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022321765). A literature search was conducted in April 2022 using MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. The study design was not restricted, provided that a quantitative NK score was reported for adolescent athletes. Studies were limited to the English language and published between 2010 and April 2022. Studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Appraisal Checklist. Data extracted included demographics, questionnaire name, number of items, validation status and mean total and subsection NK scores. Meta-analyses were inappropriate due to the heterogeneity of NK assessment tools; therefore, results were presented narratively. Thirty-two studies that assessed NK of 4553 adolescent athletes and 574 comparison participants were included. Critical appraisal of studies resulted in neutral rating 'moderate quality' for most (n 30) studies. Studies lacked justification for sample size and often used inadequately validated questionnaires. NK scores ranged from poor (33·3 %) to excellent (90·6 %). The level of NK across studies is difficult to determine due to heterogenous questionnaires often lacking appropriate validation. NK should be assessed using tools validated in the relevant population or revalidated tools previously used for other populations.

The relationship between nutrition literacy and nutrition information seeking attitudes and healthy eating patterns among a group of palestinians

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition literacy is crucial because it gives people information and drives them to take responsibility for their eating habits. Prior research on three categories of nutrition literacy among Palestinians was lacking: functional literacy (FNL), interactive literacy (INL), and critical literacy (CNL).

AIMS

(1) Describe three types of nutrition literacy-FNL, INL, and CNL-among a group of Palestinians was one of the study's primary objectives. (2) To investigate the connections between various nutrition literacy levels, eating habits, and the habit of seeking out nutrition-related information.

METHODS

149 Palestinians were chosen at random to take part in the study in the fall of 2020. Data on sociodemographic variables were gathered through an online survey that was disseminated across social and educational internet sites. Nutrition literacy data was gathered using a translated questionnaire, while diet behavior data was gathered using the Short Format of the Diet Health and Knowledge Survey (SFDHKS). The data were examined using SPSS 21.

RESULTS

This study included young people (20.4 ± 4.9 years old), 78% of whom were female. The majorities of participants had bachelor's degrees or were already enrolled in school to obtain them. FNL had a mean of 2.8 ± 0.5, INL of 3.3 ± 0.5, and CNL of 3.6 ± 0.5. The connection between CNL and INL was significant (p 0.05). Significant correlations were found between many aspects of diet behavior, the usage of food labels, and nutrition literacy.

CONCLUSION

Participants from the Palestinian community are willing to learn about and comprehend nutrition facts and how it relates to diet behavior in 2021.

Association of nutrition knowledge, practice, supplement use, and nutrient intake with strength performance among Taekwondo players in Nepal

BACKGROUND

Optimum dietary intake and adequate nutritional knowledge have been recognized as the key factors that play a critical role in improving the athlete's health and nutrition status. This study aimed to measure the association of nutritional knowledge, practice, supplement use, and nutrient intake with strength performance among Nepalese Taekwondo players.

METHODS

Between August 2019 and January 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 293 Taekwondo players in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (mean age, 18 years; 63.1% male, 36.9% female). Face-to-face interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires. Anthropometric measures, nutritional intake, nutrition knowledge, and practice were all recorded. The handgrip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer as a proxy for strength performance. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to find out the association between predictor and outcome variables.

RESULTS

More than half of the participants had poor nutrition knowledge [54.3% (159/293)], and poor nutrition practice [55.3% (162/293)] scores. Daily mean energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake were 48.0 kcal.kg-1.d-1, 8.6, 1.6, and 1.5 g.kg-1.d-1, respectively among Taekwondo players. Daily total energy and carbohydrate intake were 48.2 kcal.kg-1.d-1 and 8.7 g.kg-1.d-1, respectively among male players which is higher than female players. However, daily protein and fat intake were higher in female players (1.7 and 1.6 g.kg-1.d-1, respectively). Both calcium (375.3 mg) and iron (9 mg) intake among Taekwondo players were significantly lower than current sports nutrition guidelines. Nutritional knowledge score (r = 0.117), height (r = 0.538), weight (r = 0.651), body mass index (r = 0.347), fat (r = 0.075), and energy (r = 0.127) intake showed significant positive correlation with strength performance of athletes. The strength performance was positively associated with training hours per day (β = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.09-0.91), body mass index (β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.09-0.61), nutrition knowledge score (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.01-0.25), and energy intake (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.12-0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

The nutritional knowledge and practice both were suboptimal among Taekwondo athletes. Height, weight, body mass index, nutritional knowledge, energy, and fat intake showed a positive correlation with strength performance. Future studies can build on the premise of this study to identify the robust relationship between nutritional knowledge, practice, different supplement use, and nutrient intake among other athletes too.

Diet Quality, Dieting, Attitudes and Nutrition Knowledge: Their Relationship in Polish Young Adults-A Cross-Sectional Study

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between diet quality, dieting, nutrition knowledge and attitudes in a group of Polish young adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2018 amongst 638 students of food and nutrition-related majors. Based on the frequency of consumption of 24 food groups, the “Pro-Healthy Diet Index” (pHDI) and “Non-Healthy Diet Index” (nHDI) were calculated. To assess the nutrition knowledge, the “GAROTA” test was used. The k-means clustering method was used to identify clusters-attitudes towards food and nutrition. The relationships between pHDI and nHDI indices, dieting, nutrition knowledge (NK), and attitudes towards food and nutrition were verified, using multiple linear regression analysis. The results confirmed some relationships between the variables. Higher nHDI characterized males (p < 0.0001) and people with more unfavorable attitudes towards food and nutrition (p < 0.0001), and those not using a diet (p < 0.0001). Higher nutrition knowledge (p < 0.0001) and higher BMI (p = 0.0370) were correlated with lower nHDI. Higher pHDI characterized people with more favorable attitudes (p < 0.0001) and those using a diet (p = 0.0002). Nutrition knowledge showed an adverse association with nHDI (r = −0.172, p < 0.05) and no association with pHDI. Thus, declarative nutrition knowledge does not seem to be a good indicator of healthy dietary behavior. Nutrition education programs that concentrate only on knowledge of facts, and neglect the development of favorable attitudes towards food and nutrition, may not be efficient enough to develop adequate dietary behavior of students.

Investigation and Strategy Research on Dietary Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Athletes

The goal of this paper is to learn more about the nutritional knowledge, attitude, and behavior of teenager trampoline athletes to improve their dietary nutritional levels as well as their sports performance. The questionnaires were designed on athletes’ diet nutrition knowledge, and the questionnaire surveys were conducted on the selected teenager trampoline athletes aged 10–17 as the survey object. Dietary nutrition knowledge, attitude, and behavior are significantly correlated with the total score $\left(P<0.05\right)$ ; dietary nutrition knowledge and dietary nutrition behavior are significantly correlated $\left(P<0.05\right)$ ; dietary nutrition attitude and dietary nutrition behavior are also significantly correlated $\left(P<0.05\right)$ ; dietary nutrition knowledge and dietary nutrition attitude are not strongly correlated $\left(P>0.05\right)$ . The average score of dietary nutrition knowledge of teenager trampoline athletes is $6.5\pm 1.7$ (failing). The nutritional knowledge of teenager trampoline athletes is not systematic and the quality of nutrition information obtained by teenager trampoline athletes is low. The average score of dietary nutrition attitude of teenager trampoline athletes is $7.1\pm 1.8$ (good). The average score of dietary nutrition behavior is $13.4\pm 3.1$ (moderate). Teenager trampoline athletes mainly rely on coaches, relatives, and friends to obtain nutritional knowledge. Therefore, the correct eating habits need to be strengthened and their dietary nutrition behaviors need to be reasonably monitored. Suggestions will include providing relevant nutrition courses, increasing athletes’ awareness of the importance of dietary nutrition, and using professional dietitians for dietary nutrition matching and monitoring.

Sportsmen's Attitude towards Dietary Supplements and Nutrition Knowledge: An Investigation in Selected Roman Area Gyms

The non-professional sport environment is a grey zone not as widely assessed as that of elite athletes. The purpose of this research was to investigate the dietary supplementation habits and the nutrition knowledge on sport (NKS) in a sample of gym users. The level of adequacy of NKS was set at ≥60% of correct answers. Almost half (46.4%) of respondents stated they used food supplements, in particular multivitamins (31.0%), amino acid pills (29.5%), minerals (29.1%), and protein powders (28.7%). Supplements were used to increase muscle mass (36.9%) and to repair muscle (35.1%). Gym trainers were the preferred source of information on the use of supplements, especially in males (84%). The NKS correct response rate was 57.1% and the proportion of respondents with a sufficient level of NKS was 47.3%. The prevalence of correct answers was highest in males (61.5%) and for respondents with the highest educational attainment levels (44.5% and 53%). This study demonstrated that non-professional sportsmen do not have sufficient knowledge of nutrition and that the gym environment does not facilitate the circulation of the correct information on the role of supplementation. Considering the importance of nutrition for sportsmen, it is necessary to put in place actions aimed at increasing the knowledge of nutrition of gym users and their trainers.

The Effect of Nutrition Education on Nutrition Knowledge and Macronutrition Intake in Muay Thai Athletes

BACKGROUND: Athletes’ achievements require the support of sports science and technology. One of the supporting sciences is sports nutrition services by fulfilling athlete nutrition through foodservice and nutrition education in nutrition counseling or nutrition counseling according to the needs and conditions of athletes. AIM: This study aims to determine the effect of nutrition education on nutritional knowledge and macronutrient intake in Muay Thai athletes in Cimahi city. METHODS: This type of research is a Quasi experiment by applying a one group pre- and post-test design: Nutrition education using leaflets. The sample is Muay Thai athletes in Cimahi city who are actively practicing at the Empire Muaythai Camp as many as ten people. Data were collected by filling in the respondent’s characteristics, knowledge of nutrition, and intake of macronutrients. RESULTS: Based on the Wilcoxon test, it was found that there was an effect of providing nutrition education using leaflets on nutritional knowledge (p = 0.005) and protein intake (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: It is recommended that regular and periodic nutrition education be given to athletes and coaches as well as collaborate with nutritionists regarding nutritional fulfillment for athletes to increase macronutrient intake so that the performance of Muay Thai athletes in Cimahi city is optimal.

General and sports nutrition knowledge among Jordanian adult coaches and athletes: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Nutrition knowledge (NK) is a modifiable determinant of diet intake and can positively influence athletic performance. This study aimed to (1) adapt and translate a validated general and sports NK questionnaire into Arabic (2) assess the NK of Jordanian sportspeople, and (3) evaluate the relationship between NK and various sociodemographic factors.

METHODS

The Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ) was translated into Arabic using forward-backward translation and underwent pilot testing and psychometric validation (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater agreement) using a convenience sample of 30 individuals. Following ANSKQ validation, athletes a from 50 sport institutes in Jordan were invited (via email) to complete the Arabic ANSKQ online. Differences in NK based on demographics were analysed using t-test or ANOVA for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. The ability of demographic factors to predict NK score-category (poor/good/average/excellent) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

The Arabic ANSKQ had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92), test-retest reliability (Pearson r = 0.926) and inter-rater agreement (Cohen's k statistic = 0.89). A total of 3636 eligible participants completed the Arabic ANSKQ. Participants were mostly athletes (91.4%), female (68.0%), had normal BMI (50.6%), and played high-intensity sports (59.6%). 88.3% of participants had poor NK (<50%). There were statistically significant differences in NK score based on participant role (athlete vs coach), age, gender, BMI, nationality, smoking, years playing sport, sport frequency, sport intensity, and nutrition training. Multivariate modelling showed participant role, BMI, education level, sport frequency and nutrition training were predictors of NK category.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, Jordanian sportspeople have poor NK and may benefit from increased nutrition training.

Development of Dietary Information Literacy Scale for Competition (DILS-C) in Japanese College Athletes

This study aimed to examine the scale for reliability and validity of the dietary information literacy scale for competition (DILS-C) in college athletes. This cross-sectional study was performed using a self-report questionnaire for college athletes who belong to the club of the university located in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, from October to December 2014. The final sample comprised 953 college athletes, 684 males and 269 females, aged 18 to 22 y. Following item selection by exploratory factor analysis, the scale's reliability and validity were examined via internal consistency and confirmatory factor analysis. Furthermore, a retest for 376 athletes was conducted at about 3-wk intervals. Factor analysis of literacy measure indicated that the scale consists two sub-scales-communicative literacy and critical literacy. The Cronbach's α coefficient assessing the internal consistency reliability was acceptable (communicative literacy=0.84, critical literacy=0.79). Excellent goodness-of-fit indices of communicative and critical literacy were obtained by confirmatory factor analysis (GFI=0.95, AGFI=0.92, CFI=0.95, RMSEA=0.08). Retest reliability was within an allowable range (communicative literacy ICC=0.52, critical literacy ICC=0.50). The present study suggested that the reliability and factorial validity were confirmed in the DILS-C in college athletes.

Determinants of nutrition knowledge, attitude and practices of adolescent sports trainee: A cross-sectional study in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Nutrition is an important predictor of an athlete's performance. It is more important for particularly those athletes who are in the growing stage (adolescents). This study aimed to assess their current level of knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of nutrition and to predict potential factors impacting their level of these KAP.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent trainee athletes selected conveniently from 11 sports departments (e.g. cricket, football, hockey, etc.) of Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP). A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Anthropometric measurements (e.g. height, weight, BMI, BF %) were taken using appropriate methods. The data were analyzed using R (v3.6.1) and Python Jupyter Notebook. Descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and logistic regression were used to determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables.

RESULTS

A total number of 260 participants were enrolled in this study, most of them (86%) were male. Their mean age was 15.50 ± 1.83 ranging from 12-19 years. More than half of the participants had good nutrition knowledge (n = 149, 57.3%). Fifty-seven percent of participants had a positive attitude (n = 146) and 57.69% (n = 150) had a good level of practices regarding nutrition. Age (p = 0.007), gender (p = 0.004), department of training (p = 0.0034), and duration of sports training (p = 0.004) of participants were significantly associated with knowledge, while only age and BMI were significantly associated with practices. Athletes with less body fat were more likely to have good nutrition practice behavior (AOR 0.895; 95% CI 0.83, 0.96; p < 0.05) and nutrition knowledge was positively associated with nutrition practice (AOR 2.335; 95% CI 1.405, 3.88; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Knowledge, attitude, and practices level observed among many of our participants was satisfactory. Previous nutrition training was found as a potentially modifiable factor of good nutrition knowledge and good nutrition knowledge was found to be a predictor of good practice score. Thus, it is necessary to provide appropriate nutrition information to adolescent athletes through proper educational training and intervention on a regular basis.

Nutrition Knowledge among College of Basic Education Students in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study

Lack of nutrition knowledge may contribute to poor dietary practices. Schools are an ideal environment to address this issue and to start the process of nutrition education. Therefore, teachers should be equipped with adequate nutrition knowledge. This study was designed to evaluate the level of general nutrition knowledge and demographic variations in knowledge in a sample of students attending the College of Basic Education in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a modified and validated revised version of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ-R) for UK adults. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association between various factors and nutrition knowledge score. A total of five hundred and ninety-seven students completed the questionnaire. Most respondents (84.1%) had a poor level of nutrition knowledge using original Bloom's cutoff points. Sex, BMI, cooking habits, and who is responsible for preparing food in the household were the main determinants of nutrition knowledge score at p < 0.05. The mean score of the students was 40.06 ± 9.89 out of 84 points. Females scored significantly higher than males, at 41.10 ± 9.29 and 38.72 ± 10.48, respectively (p = 0.007). Students with a BMI of ≥30 achieved significantly greater scores (mean 42.30 ± 9.41) than those who were underweight, normal, or overweight (p < 0.001). Students who stated that they always cook their own food achieved significantly greater scores (mean 43.69 ± 9.58) than those who did not (p = 0.025). Students who stated that they depend on the housekeeper for food preparation achieved significantly lower scores (mean 38.86 ± 10.13) than those who prepare their own food or depend on their relatives to prepare food (p = 0.042). Poor nutrition knowledge was found among prospective teachers studying in the College of Basic Education. This must be rectified for the effective implementation of nutrition education programs in schools.

Nutrition Knowledge Among Young Finnish Endurance Athletes and Their Coaches

The nutrition knowledge of athletes and coaches is often inadequate. However, athletes need sufficient knowledge of this subject to understand the importance of food choices for their athletic performance, recovery, and overall health. Adequate nutrition knowledge and skills are important for coaches because they are often the most significant source of nutrition knowledge for their athletes. Most previous nutrition knowledge studies have been carried out in team sports and outside Scandinavia. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the nutrition knowledge of Finnish endurance athletes (156 males and 156 females; age = 17.9 ± 1.2 years) and their coaches (69 males and 25 females; age = 44.3 ± 12.3 years). The three main sports among the participants were cross-country skiing (n = 53 coaches and n = 111 athletes), orienteering (n = 13 and n = 110), and biathlon (n = 6 and n = 38). On average, the coaches (N = 94) answered 81% ± 9% of the 79 nutrition questionnaire items correctly, whereas the respective result was 73% ± 9% among the athletes (N = 312). The coaches had significantly (p < .001) better nutrition knowledge of all the five subcategories of the questionnaire, whereas the "dietary supplements" and "nutrition recommendations for endurance athletes" subcategories appeared particularly difficult for the athletes. The average nutrition knowledge score of athletes was relatively low. As nutrition knowledge may have a positive association with athletes' food choices and subsequent dietary intake, Finnish endurance athletes and coaches would benefit from enhanced nutrition education.

Level of nutrition knowledge and its association with fat consumption among college students

BACKGROUND

Intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to explore whether increased nutrition knowledge is associated with a reduction in the consumption of unhealthy fats in a sample of university students.

METHODS

A sample of 231 students, with a mean age of 20 years, was recruited from university campus during spring 2012. Students completed a validated questionnaire related to students' demographic, nutrition knowledge, and daily fat consumption. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, chi-square, and student's t-test.

RESULTS

Results indicate that female students have greater nutrition knowledge than male students (the mean nutrition score for women was 5 points higher than that of men (P = 0.01)). Nutrition knowledge was negatively correlated with fat and cholesterol intake. Students who consumed more than 35 % calories from fat or >300 mg of cholesterol daily had lower mean nutrition scores than those students with lower fat or cholesterol intake (8 points lower and 7.9 points lower, respectively). Using linear regression for nutrition scores on estimated saturated fat intake and cholesterol intake (controlling for gender, height, weight, age, and dieting), nutrition scores were negatively associated with saturated fat intake (-0.15, P <0.0001) and cholesterol intake (-1.38, P <0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Students with greater nutritional knowledge consumed less unhealthy fats and cholesterol. This finding magnifies the role of nutrition education as a potential tool in health campaigns to promote healthy eating patterns among college students. Results of this pilot study can inform the design of future nutrition education intervention studies to assess the efficacy of nutrition knowledge on pattern of fat consumption among college students.

Does Nutrition Knowledge and Practice of Athletes Translate to Enhanced Athletic Performance? Cross-Sectional Study Amongst Nigerian Undergraduate Athletes

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES

Nutrition knowledge of an athlete, as well as practice, is expected to influence athlete's performance. The study assessed the nutrition knowledge and practice as well as athletes' performance and identified the factors predicting the athletes' performance.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional survey, involved 110 purposively selected undergraduate athletes (47 females, 63 males) of University of Ibadan, Nigeria, between July 2013 and December 2013. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire assessed the nutrition knowledge and practice. 24-hr diet recall and food frequency questionnaire were done. Anthropometric measurements were taken; body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis method. Handgrip strength (HGS), as an indirect measure of athlete performance, was assessed with the hand dynamometer. Chi-square and t-test analysis were used for the bivariate analysis. Pearson correlation and simple linear regression were used to determine relationships and predict athletic performance. The level of statistical significance was p<0.05.

RESULTS

More than half (58.2%) had good nutrition knowledge (NK), and 62.7% had good nutrition practices (NP). Majority (75.4%) had normal handgrip strength (HGS). More than 70.0% frequently do not consume cereals, roots and tubers, fruits and vegetables, legumes /nuts. About 30.0-40.0% frequently do not consume eggs/milk, meat/fish. Having good NK was significantly associated with good NP (χ2=15.520, p=0.000), but not with athlete's performance (HGS). There is no significant correlation between NK, NP, and HGS. There is a significant positive correlation between HGS and lean muscle mass (LMM) (r=.670, p=0.000), weight (r=.492, p=0.000), height (r=.521, p=0.000) and energy intake (r=.386, p=0.000). There is a significant negative correlation between HGS and percentage body fat (r=-.400, p=0.000). Athletes' performance was significantly predicted by the resting metabolic rate (beta=.454 C.I=0.011 to 0.045, p=0.003), Lean muscle mass (beta=.297 C.I=.059 to 0.562, p=0.024) and the weight (beta=.228, C.I=1.852 to .489, p=0.047).

CONCLUSION

Having good nutrition knowledge or practice did not directly determine athletic performance. However, there is the need for nutrition education interventions, to improve athlete's performance by promoting adequate energy intake, lean muscle mass and appropriate weight gain in athletes.

High tendency to the substantial concern on body shape and eating disorders risk of the students majoring Nutrition or Sport Sciences

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Studies have indicated that university students majoring in nutrition and dietetics or sport sciences may have more obsessions associated with eating attitudes and body shape perception compared to other disciplines i.e. social sciences. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the risk of eating disorders and body shape perception.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Data was collected from 773 undergraduate students at the Departments of Nutrition and Dietetics (NDD) (n = 254), Physical Education and Sports (PESD) (n = 263), and Social Sciences (SOC) (n = 256).A socio-demographic and personal information questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34), Perceived Figure Rating Scale (FRS) were applied; and body weights and heights were measured.

RESULTS

Mean EAT-40 scores showed that, both male and female students of PESD had the highest scores (17.4 ± 11.6) compared with NDD (14.3 ± 8.3) and SOC (13.0 ± 6.2) (P < 0.05). According to EAT-40 classification, high risk in abnormal eating behavior was more in PESD (10.7%) compared to NDD (2.9%) and SOC (0.4%) students (P < 0.05). Students of PESD, who skipped meal, had higher tendency to the risk of eating disorders (P < 0.05). In parallel, body shape perception was found to be marked with higher scores in NDD (72.0 ± 28.7) and PESD (71.5 ± 32.8) compared with SOC (64.2 ± 27.5) students (P < 0.05). Considering BSQ-34 classification, high concern (moderate and marked) for body shape were more in PESD (7.4 %) compared to NDD (5.2%) and SOC (1.9%) students (P < 0.05). The body size judgement via obtained by the FRS scale were generally correlated with BMI. The Body Mass Index levels were in normal range (Mean BMI: 21.9 ± 2.8 kg/m(2)) and generally consistent with FRS data.

CONCLUSIONS

Tendency to the abnormal eating behavior and substantial body shape perception were higher in PESD students who have more concern on body shape and were not well-educated about nutrition. In conclusion, substantial concern on physical appearance might affect eating behavior disorders in PESD students.

Nutritional knowledge of UK coaches

Athletes obtain nutritional information from their coaches, yet their competency in this area is lacking. Currently, no research exists in the UK which has a different coach education system to many other countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the sports nutrition knowledge of UK coaching certificate (UKCC) level 2 and 3, hockey and netball qualified coaches. All coaches (n = 163) completed a sports nutrition questionnaire to identify: (a) if they provided nutritional advice; (b) their level of sport nutrition knowledge; and (c) factors that may have contributed to their level of knowledge. Over half the coaches provided advice to their athletes (n = 93, 57.1%), even though they were not competent to do so. Coaches responded correctly to 60.3 ± 10.5% of all knowledge questions with no differences between those providing advice and those who did not (p > 0.05). Those coaches who had undertaken formal nutrition training achieved higher scores than those who had not (p < 0.05). In conclusion, UK sports coaches would benefit from continued professional development in sports nutrition to enhance their coaching practice.

Nutritional knowledge and attitudes of adolescent swimmers in trinidad and tobago

Purpose. To investigate the level of nutrition knowledge and attitude of adolescent male and female swimmers training competitively in Trinidad and Tobago. Methodology. A self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of 21 nutrition knowledge and 11 attitude statements, was utilized to assess the level of nutrition knowledge and attitude of adolescent swimmers. For the assessment of nutrition knowledge, correct answers were given a score of “1” and incorrect answers were given a score of “0.” For the evaluation of attitude towards nutrition, a score ranging from 1 to 5 was assigned to each response; “5” was given to the most positive response, and “1” was given to the most negative. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Results. Two hundred and twenty swimmers with a mean age of 14.56 ± 2.544 completed the questionnaire. The mean nutrition knowledge score was 10.97 ± 2.897 and mean attitude score was 41.69 ± 6.215. Nutrition knowledge was positively and significantly related to the number of reported nutrition sources (r = 0.172, P = 0.005). Nutrition knowledge was positively and significantly related to the attitude (r = 0.130, P = 0.027). Conclusions and Implication. Athletes lack nutrition knowledge but have a positive attitude towards nutrition, which may indicate receptiveness to future nutrition education.

Assessing the validity and reliability of a questionnaire on dietary fibre-related knowledge in a Turkish student population

This study aimed to validate a questionnaire on dietary fibre (DF)-related knowledge in a Turkish student population. Participants (n=360) were either undergraduate students who have taken a nutrition course for 14 weeks (n=174) or those in another group who have not taken such a nutrition course (n=186). Test-retest reliability, internal reliability, and construct validity of the questionnaire were determined. Overall internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.90) and test-retest reliability (0.90) were high. Significant differences (p<0.001) between the scores of the two groups of students indicated that the questionnaire had satisfactory construct validity. It was found that one-fifth of the students were unsure of the correct answer for any item, and 52.5% of them were not aware that DF had to be consumed on a daily basis. Only 36.4 to 44.2% of the students were able to correctly identify the food sources of DF.

Dietary supplementation and doping-related factors in high-level sailing

Background

Although dietary supplements (DSs) in sports are considered a natural need resulting from athletes’ increased physical demands, and although they are often consumed by athletes, data on DS usage in Olympic sailing are scarce. The aim of this study was to study the use of and attitudes towards DSs and doping problems in high-level competitive sailing.

Methods

The sample consisted of 44 high-level sailing athletes (5 of whom were female; total mean age 24.13 ± 6.67 years) and 34 coaches (1 of whom was female; total mean age 37.01 ± 11.70). An extensive, self-administered questionnaire of substance use was used, and the subjects were asked about sociodemographic data, sport-related factors, DS-related factors (i.e., usage of and knowledge about DSs, sources of information), and doping-related factors. The Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used to determine the differences in group characteristics, and Spearman’s rank order correlation and a logistic regression analysis were used to define the relationships between the studied variables.

Results

DS usage is relatively high. More than 77% of athletes consume DSs, and 38% do so on a regular basis (daily). The athletes place a high degree of trust in their coaches and/or physicians regarding DSs and doping. The most important reason for not consuming DSs is the opinion that DSs are useless and a lack of knowledge about DSs. The likelihood of doping is low, and one-third of the subjects believe that doping occurs in sailing (no significant differences between athletes and coaches). The logistic regression found crew number (i.e., single vs. double crew) to be the single significant predictor of DS usage, with a higher probability of DS consumption among single crews.

Conclusion

Because of the high consumption of DSs future investigations should focus on real nutritional needs in sailing sport. Also, since athletes reported that their coaches are the primary source of information about nutrition and DSs, further studies are necessary to determine the knowledge about nutrition, DSs and doping problems among athletes and their support teams (i.e., coaches, physicians, and strength and conditioning specialists).

Validation of a general nutrition knowledge questionnaire in a Turkish student sample

OBJECTIVE

To validate the general nutrition knowledge questionnaire developed by Parmenter and Wardle (1999) in a Turkish student sample.

DESIGN

The original questionnaire of Parmenter and Wardle (1999) was modified and translated into Turkish. The modified questionnaire was administered to second year undergraduate students. Some students completed the questionnaire twice for the measurement of test-retest reliability. Statistical analysis was performed on the responses to measure the internal reliability, test-retest reliability and construct validity.

SETTING

Students completed the questionnaire under supervision. The questionnaire was completed at the end of lectures. Retest was carried out two weeks after first administration of the test.

SUBJECTS

A total of 195 undergraduate students studying either nutrition and dietetics (n 90) or engineering (n 105) participated in the study. Of these, 125 students completed the questionnaire on two occasions.

RESULTS

Overall internal reliability (Cronbach's α = 0·89) and test-retest reliability (0·86) were high. Significant differences between the scores of the two groups of students indicated that the questionnaire had satisfactory construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified version of the general nutrition knowledge questionnaire can be used as a tool to examine the nutrition knowledge of adults in Turkey. In the next stage of the study, some adjustments need to be made to the items that led to low reliability values so that these items will be more applicable to the eating habits and patterns of Turkish people.