Evaluation Of Nutrition Information And Communication Strategies For Young Elite Athletes

Abstract

Eating behavior and knowledge on interrelations between exercise, nutrition, performance and health is often inadequate in young elite athletes (YEA). Regular nutrition supervision may improve nutrition knowledge and presumably ameliorate food intake. Therefore, both nutritional counseling and education of YEA should be conducted by nutrition professionals as a low-threshold offer and should be attractive to this special target population. However, it is unknown which kind of nutritional counseling and education is attractive to YEA. PURPOSE: To evaluate strategies for nutritional education and counseling for young elite athletes at the Olympic sports center (OSC) in Stuttgart, Germany. METHODS: 78 YEA from elite schools of sports associated to the OSC Stuttgart (17,1±1,6 years) were asked in a cross-sectional design via a standardized questionnaire for preferred information and communication channels, desired frequency and kind of nutrition supervision. RESULTS: Important sources of nutrition information for YEA are their family and friends (80% of the YEA), internet (73%), coaches (72%) and the nutrition consultant (70%) at the OSC Stuttgart. 52% of the respondents would like to be informed regularly on current nutrition topics. Besides the personal contact, E-Mail, telephone and also communication via app and social networks are preferred. Furthermore, most YEA (86%) would appreciate the implementation of nutrition information and cooking recipes into a special “OSP-App”. The bigger part of the respondents desires an individual nutritional counseling and 88% are interested in a personalized diet plan. 58% of the YEA wish to be nutritionally supported via professional individual counseling at least every 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that personal nutritional supervision including individualized diet plans are desired by YEA. In particular, nutritional counseling should also be conducted using new media and social networks to improve availability and attractiveness of nutritional education for YEA. In addition, coaches and peers - as they are important information sources for YEA - should be integrated into low-threshold nutritional education programs.