Impact of nutrition education on adolescents' sports nutrition knowledge and use of ergogenic products

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a nutrition education program on adolescents' knowledge of sports nutrition and their use of ergogenic products. A nutrition education program was developed which included a sports nutrition video tape, nutrition knowledge questionnaire and student learning activities. The program was pretested with a similar group of 37 adolescents to determine content validity and reliability. The sample in this study was 68 adolescents (51 males and 17 females) 15–18 years of age, enrolled in a physical education class. Data were collected in early December and retested two months later. A paired t-test AOV and chi-square were used to analyze differences between pre- and post-test scores and to determine the relationship of selected variables on sports nutrition scores and use of ergogenic products. Pre-test sports nutrition knowledge scores were low (57.7% correct). No significant change in scores was observed as a result of the nutrition education program. The subjects scored the highest on questions related to weight control (81.3%) and lowest in the area of amino acid and protein supplements (42.6%). Data from the follow-up identified a significant decrease in the use of vitamins minerals, muscle building products, protein supplements, amino acids and salt tablets two months after the sports nutrition education program. Family was the most frequently reported (35%) source of nutrition information followed by the coach/teacher (24%). Only 13.5% reported that friends were the source of sports nutrition information. Conclusions include the need for more sports nutrition information provided to adolescents and to develop strategies that involve parents, teachers and coaches in sports nutrition education.