Diet Patterns and Quality of Student Athletes at an HBCU

Abstract

Describe diet patterns and diet quality of student-athletes in an HBCU Nutrition status for Student-Athletes (SA) is critical to optimal performance. However, data for SAs in Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) are scarce. The purpose of this presentation is to describe diet patterns and quality of SA in an HBCU. A convenience sample of 28 SAs (13 females, 15 males) provided three 24-hr recalls entered into Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR 2019, UMinn). Diet quality was analyzed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and compared to dietary guidelines according to sex. Recommended dairy servings were not met while vegetable servings exceeded recommendations. Female athletes met grain and protein recommendations; male athletes exceeded recommendations. Female athletes did not meet fruit recommendations, but male athletes did. Female athletes ate significantly fewer servings of grains (p<0.05) and proteins (p<0.01) but more snack grains (p<0.01) than males. Athletes surveyed had an average HEI score of 53.1±14.5 which is lower than the average American adult. Female athletes had a higher HEI score than males (59.0±17.2 vs. 48.1±9.7), though this finding was only trending towards significance. Female athletes had significantly higher whole fruit and whole grain HEI scores than males (p<0.05). The results of this analysis suggest that SAs in an HBCU may have different eating patterns and diet quality based on sex, though both groups may benefit from dairy nutrition education. Additional research may provide more insight into diet patterns and quality according to sport. Tailored nutrition education may increase diet quality and result in improved nutrition status to support athletic performance.