Sources Of Nutrition Information And Knowledge In Ultra-runners (the SNIKR Study)

Abstract

With the recent increase in ultra-endurance competitions, the role of nutrition in performance has garnered significant attention. While the ACSM, AND, and DC have a joint position stand on nutrition for endurance performance, recent data has demonstrated that many ultra-endurance athletes do not meet the recommendations for athletic performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand common sources of nutrition information among recreational ultra-endurance athletes, and determine how this information is used in their training. METHOD: Recreational ultra-endurance athletes were recruited to participate in one of two focus groups (N = 8, mean age = 38.2 years), which followed pre-scripted questions to guide discussion. Participants also completed a demographic questionnaire. Focus group data was transcribed and reviewed by multiple researchers, and common themes were identified. RESULTS: The sample was 50% female, 100% white or non-Hispanic, 68% attained a college degree or higher, and 62.5% are married/partnered. Regarding their perception of the ideal diet for an ultra-endurance athlete, 87.5% of respondents discussed a “whole foods” diet with little processed food. Most of the participants (62.5%) were aware of the ACSM recommendations, but did not follow them. The most common reason was a belief in individual responsiveness to diet (50%) or the perception that it was too difficult to follow (50%). The most commonly used sources of nutrition information were through experienced athletes (87.5%) or personal relationships (62.5%), followed by magazines and non-academic books (50%). CONCLUSION: Overall, the focus group discussion revealed that recreational athletes, while aware of the dietary recommendations, do not believe they are accessible or worth their effort. As many participants look to personal relationships and successful athletes for advice, researchers and dietitians may reconsider how nutritional information is most effectively disseminated.