Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a seven-week nutrition education intervention on the sports nutrition knowledge (SNK) of highly trained UK adolescent swimmers. Fifteen national and international adolescent swimmers (males = 5; females = 10, 15.5 ± 1.1 years, 170.2 ± 7.5 cm, 60.3 ± 5.7 kg) participated in the study during seven consecutive weeks of the competitive swimming season. The participants received 30 min of nutrition education once per week in a classroom-based setting after they had completed their regular swim training. An undergraduate sports nutrition student delivered all nutrition education sessions and SNK questionnaires were administered to the participants pre- and post-intervention. The mean total SNK score improved by 8.3% (SD = 8.4%, 95% CI = 4.1–12.6; p = 0.006; ES = 1.0) following the nutrition education sessions. On an individual basis, ten swimmers significantly improved their total SNK score, whereas four swimmers did not improve, and one swimmer performed significantly worse after the intervention. Moreover, the swimmers’ knowledge of hydration improved by 22.2% (SD = 20.6%, 95% CI = 11.8–32.6, p = 0.004, ES = 1.1) over the seven-week timeframe, which was the only nutrition topic to have a significantly increased knowledge score. The current study therefore suggests that a nutrition education intervention can positively influence the SNK of highly trained adolescent swimmers.
Highlights
Swimmers who had previously attended nutrition classes were found to have a greater sports nutrition knowledge (SNK) than those who had not previously received any nutrition education [15]. These findings suggest that a nutrition education intervention may help to address current gaps within the SNK of adolescent swimmers
Total SNK score improved by 8.3% (SD = 8.4%; p = 0.006; ES = 1.0) following the nutrition education sessions
Education intervention on the nutrition knowledge of highly trained adolescent swimIn agreement with our hypothesis, our findings demonstrated that seven weekly nutrition mers. education
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Adolescence is defined as the period between 10 to 19 years of age and is a life phase where future patterns of adult health are often established [1], including the development of dietary habits and lifelong relationships with food [2]. It is during this time that sporting commitments can dramatically increase, with some young athletes becoming capable of competing at a high level of participation. Adolescent athletes are presented with a unique nutritional challenge since optimal dietary practices are critical to maintain growth, athletic performance, and health to support possible future careers in sport [2]
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