Nutrition Knowledge and Attitudes of Former University Athletes

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To assess nutrition knowledge and attitudes of former collegiate athletes.participants in this study were 400 University graduates who had participated in intercollegiate athletics within the last 10 years. They were sent a survey on athletic participation and nutrition knowledge and attitudes. The response rate was 3 5%. Scores on the general nutrition knowledge questions were 57% and on the sports nutrition knowledge questions were 79%. Eighty four percent of the respondents answered the attitude questions appropriately. The five questions which were most frequently answered correctly were attitude questions on sports nutrition; the five questions which were most frequently answered incorrectly were general nutrition knowledge questions. The 40% who had taken a nutrition course had higher general knowledge scores (81% vs 77%), and total knowledge scores (66% vs. 60%) than those who had not. All of those who had not taken a nutrition course thought one would be helpful to athletes. There was no effect of type of sport or eating in the athletic dining hall on scores for questions about sports nutrition. Scores for questions about general nutrition and nutrition attitudes were better for those athletes who had participated in individual sports than for those who had participated in team sports and tended to be better for those who did not eat in the athletic dining hall.