The Muscle Mag
The study highlights that athletes often lack knowledge of micronutrients, fluid intake, supplement use, recovery strategies, and weight management. However, they tend to score better on topics related to dehydration and dietary sources of nutrients. This discrepancy in sports nutrition knowledge (SNK) may result in athletes not understanding their energy and macronutrient requirements, leading to poor nutrition.
The researchers noted that collegiate athletes often do not receive adequate nutrition support services to meet their unique dietary needs, which can impact their performance, recovery, and health. Implementing a sports nutrition education program could enhance SNK and raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and intake requirements, as well as educate athletes on food preparation strategies.
Furthermore, athletes were found to have limited physical and emotional perceptions related to mindful eating in sports nutrition.
A range of nutritional knowledge
The physiological demands of training and elite physical performance necessitate adequate energy intake of macro and micronutrients to promote muscle growth, prevent injuries, and aid in recovery. Athletes have distinct nutritional needs due to increased activity levels and lean body mass, requiring more energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrates in their diets.
Despite the importance of nutrition, there are only 103 sports dietitians working with collegiate athletes in the NCAA full time. Variances in resources between NCAA divisions can influence SNK and perceptions of sports nutrition among athletes.
Dr. Chad Kerksick, a Lindenwood University professor and study author, expressed surprise at the lack of nutrition knowledge among athletes, particularly regarding their required caloric intake. Many Division I programs have limited dietitians available to athletes, contributing to their inadequate understanding of nutrition.
Past research indicates that collegiate athletes tend to overestimate their knowledge of nutrition, making them vulnerable to insufficient nutritional intake.
Study details
The study involved 123 athletes who completed an electronic SNK questionnaire assessing their perceived dietary needs and comprehension of mindful eating. Most participants had not taken a nutrition course.
Participants were asked about their beliefs regarding daily caloric requirements to maintain weight and their understanding of mindful eating practices. Athletes consistently underestimated their daily energy needs for moderate activity levels.
The overall average SNK score of 45.5% indicated poor nutrition knowledge among the athletes, aligning with previous studies on collegiate athletes. Both male and female athletes underestimated their daily energy requirements significantly.
Athletes also faced challenges such as limited time for grocery shopping and meal preparation, hindering their ability to eat healthily and excel in their sports.
“Collegiate athletes lack fundamental nutrition knowledge,” Dr. Kersick stated. “This study underscores the need for comprehensive educational initiatives at all levels of college athletics.”
Source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
doi: 10.1080/15502783.2024.2365307
“Differences in perceived energy and macronutrient requirements across divisions in NCAA athletes”
Authors: K. Michelle Singleton et al.
