Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the level of nutritional knowledge and food selection practices in Korean middle school competitive cyclists, and to explore whether those can be modified by a nutrition class containing a drill program. METHODS: Fourteen young elite cyclists (9 boys, 5 girls; 14.8±1.0 yrs, 165.6±7.5 cm, 57.6±10.1 kg, 17.2±5.6 %fat, 57.5±8.2 ml·kg-1·min-1 VO2max, 17±8 mo experienced) who had never participated in any nutrition programs before the study were recruited. The basic nutrition knowledge (BNK) and food selection drill (FSD) were tested before and after the class. BNK was evaluated by a questionnaire that questioned nutrient sources (25 items, answering one of 'high' 'low' or 'don't know') and the functions (5 items, answering one of 'yes' 'no' or 'don't know'). For FSD, they were freely allowed to choose any of 120 real-looking food items setting on a table. And it was assumed that they would select a dinner plate before a competition day. The 40-min long nutrition class provided information about the basic nutrients as well as food composition, and sports nutrition for young cyclists. The correct answer of BNK, and the calorie count and nutrient compositions of FSD were examined. RESULTS: Before and after the class, the correct answer of BNK was 14.3±3.7 (47.6%) and 20.0±3.0 (66.7%) (p<0.05), and the number of 'don't know' was 6.7±5.6 (22.4%) and 1.8±2.2 (6.0%), respectively (p<0.05). The composition of the selected foods for carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 56.6±10.4%, 17.5±5.3%, and 23.9±7.4% before, and 69.5±11.3%, 14.0±4.1%, and 15.6±8.7% after the class, respectively. The total food calorie was 1,116±340 kcal before and 1,127±524 kcal after the class (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The nutrition class containing a drill program emphasized on nutrients and food compositions for young cyclists was effective in improving nutritional knowledge and food selection practices. After the class, they selected more carbohydrate rich foods. (This project was financial supported by the Korea Foundation for the Next Generation Sports Talent of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea, Kookmin Univ. contract #20090167.)
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