Evaluation of General Nutrition Knowledge in Elite Australian Athletes

Abstract

Optimal dietary intake enhances athletic performance. Higher general nutrition knowledge (GNK) may promote advantageous dietary behaviour facilitating peak performance. No published studies describe GNK in elite Australian athletes. PURPOSE: To investigate and benchmark the level of GNK in elite Australian athletes (EA) against a similar aged community (CM) and criterion sample with dietetic training (DT). METHODS: EA (n=175), CM (n=116) and DT (n=53) respondents completed the validated 113 item General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ) which assesses four domains of GNK (A: dietary guidelines; B: sources of nutrients; C: choosing everyday foods; D: diet-disease relationships). Age, gender and level of education were collected in all groups; athletic calibre and sport type (team or individual) in EA. A panel of 20 dieticians and nutrition scientists re-examined the GNKQ for content validity resulting in instrument revision (R-GNKQ; 96 items). Internal Reliability (internal consistency: Cronbach alpha n = 28; test-re-test: Spearman rank correlation n = 344) was also performed. Data: Mean ± SD. RESULTS: EA were younger (18.9 ± 4.9) than CM (21.9 ± 4.2) (p<0.001) with both younger than DT (p<0.001). DT scored higher than EA and CM in all instrument subsections and at least 25% higher on total score (p<0.001). EA scored lower than CM for overall nutrition knowledge (p<0.001) and on section B (p<0.001) on GNKQ and overall knowledge (p<0.001) and sections B (p<0.001), C (p<0.001) and D (p<0.007) on R-GNKQ. Overall score was influenced by age (p=0.036 GNKQ: p=0.053 R-GNKQ), gender (p=0.016 GNKQ: p=0.003 R-GNKQ) and athletic calibre (p=0.029 R-GNKQ) but not education level, living situation or ethnicity. After age and gender adjustment, score differences between EA and CM were no longer significant. Same age, EA and CM overall knowledge score in males was 3.5% (GNKQ) and 5% (R-GNKQ) below females. There was an approximate 0.5% increase for each gender adjusted year of age (GNKQ and R-GNKQ). EA and CM performed best on section A and worst on D. CONCLUSION: EA had significantly lower overall GNK scores than CM but not when adjusted for age and gender. Lower GNK in younger, male participants suggests targeted dietary education may be specifically required for this group. Supported by Australian Sports Commission grant.