Elite squash players nutrition knowledge and influencing factors

Ollie Turner,Nigel Mitchell,Alan Ruddock,Mayur Ranchordas,Alison Purvis

doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00443-3

Abstract

BackgroundThere is a reported mismatch between macronutrient consumption and contemporary macronutrient guidelines in elite standard squash players. Suboptimal dietary practices could be due to a lack of nutrition knowledge among players. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to assess the sports nutrition knowledge of elite squash players through the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ) and provide an indication of whether players require nutrition support to increase their nutrition knowledge.MethodsThis cross-sectional study assessed the nutrition knowledge of 77 elite squash players via the NSKQ over the period of June 2020 to August 2020.ResultsPlayers conveyed average nutrition knowledge with a mean NSKQ score of 48.78 ± 10.06 (56.07% ± 11.56%). There were no significant differences in NSKQ score between male and female players (p = .532). There was found to be a weak positive association between world ranking and NSKQ score (r = .208) and age and NSKQ score (r = .281). Players who had a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. BSc Sport & Exercise Science) had significantly greater NSKQ score than players with no relevant qualifications (p = .022). Players who consulted a sports nutritionist to obtain their main source of nutrition information were shown to have significantly greater knowledge than those who acquired knowledge from a sports scientist (p = .01) or the internet / social media (p = .007).ConclusionsPlayers should consult with a sports nutritionist to increase their sport nutrition knowledge. Future research should quantify the effectiveness of a nutritional education intervention at increasing nutrition knowledge in players.

Highlights

There is a reported mismatch between macronutrient consumption and contemporary macronutrient guidelines in elite standard squash players
The final aim of the study was to survey what contemporary sports nutrition research elite squash players would like to see being conducted in the future
The main findings of this study were (1) elite squash players had average nutrition knowledge, (2) there were no differences in nutrition knowledge between male and female players, (3) age and world ranking had a weak positive association with nutrition knowledge, (4) players who had a relevant undergraduate degree were found to have better nutrition knowledge than those who had no relevant qualification, (5) players who obtained their main source of nutrition knowledge from a sports nutritionist were shown to have better nutrition knowledge than players who obtained from a sports scientist or the internet, and (6) players valued quantifying the energetic demands throughout a training period as the research they would like to see undertaken in the future

Summary

Introduction

There is a reported mismatch between macronutrient consumption and contemporary macronutrient guidelines in elite standard squash players. Mismatches between contemporary nutritional recommendations and players habitual nutritional practices suggest that elite squash players might lack the nutrition knowledge to have optimal dietary practices. An athlete’s nutrition knowledge is one modifiable determinants of dietary behaviour [12], with a weak positive correlation being reported between an athlete’s nutrition knowledge and their diet quality [13, 14]. Despite only a weak association between an athlete’s nutrition knowledge and their diet quality, nutrition education interventions have been shown to increase athlete’s nutrition knowledge and lead to greater dietary behaviours [21], optimising physical performance [22]. Increasing an athlete’s nutrition knowledge is of interest to sport nutrition practitioners as it might enhance athlete’s dietary practices [21] and athletic ability [22]

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Discussion

Conclusion