The Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Behavior of Student-Athletes

Women aged 18-49 years are women of childbearing age. Their nutrition knowledge (NK) is not only related to their physical health but also affects the diet quality of the entire family and the health status of the next generation. Studies that assess the NK level of women of childbearing age using representative data in China are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the NK level of Chinese women aged 18-49 years and explore influencing factors at both the individual and provincial levels. Data were from the Chinese Nutrition and Health Knowledge Survey 2021. A total of 38,065 females aged 18-49 years were included in the analysis. A face-to-face validated standard questionnaire was used to collect NK from respondents. The full score of the questionnaire was 100. Respondents who scored higher than 75 were considered to have NK. The Rao-Scott chi-square test was used to compare the differences in the NK awareness rate between or among the subgroups. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to explore influencing factors at the individual and provincial levels. All analyses accounted for complex sample design including clustering, stratification, and sample weights. The mean score of NK among Chinese women aged 18-49 years was 65.1 ± 11.8, and the awareness rate was 20.9% (95% CI: 19.6-22.3%). Among the five dimensions, the awareness rate of food safety was the highest (74.0%, 95% CI: 72.8-75.3%), and the dietary recommendation was the lowest (16.4%, 95% CI: 15.3-17.5%). The two-level logistic regression model analysis revealed that at the individual level, age, education level, occupation, chronic disease status and residence were the main influencing factors of the NK level. At the provincial level, the region and the female illiteracy rate were associated with the NK level. Dependent children ratio, per capita income, and health expenditure were not significantly associated with the NK level. The model accounted for 58.8% of the variance in the NK level. The NK level of Chinese women aged 18-49 years was low. Knowledge of dietary recommendations was weakest. Both individual and provincial-level factors were associated with the NK level. There is an urgent need to strengthen nutrition education actions for enhancing the NK of reproductive-age women effectively to improve their dietary behaviors.

Background: School programs are set to effectively inform students about nutrition and healthy body weight to improve their health-related knowledge, which may in turn have a positive impact on students’ dietary behaviors and healthy lifestyle. However, developing an effective nutrition-related education program is conditioned to a prior assessment of students’ nutritional knowledge. Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to examine the levels of obesity-related nutrition knowledge possessed by secondary schools’ students in Hebron and evaluate the association between their nutrition knowledge and dietary practices. Using the stratified random sampling procedures, a total of 469 students, average age of 16±0.671 years, were randomly selected from four different areas in Hebron. A dichotomous questionnaire, consisted of 16 items, was used to investigate the nutrition and obesity knowledge. Data collection included: age, gender, weight classification, parent’s level of education and eating behaviours. The analysis showed low levels of obesity-related knowledge among the study sample, as indicated by the low mean scores of students’ correct answers (9.7±3.3). Significant higher mean scores were found in favor of female students (p<0.05); scientific stream students (p<0.01), with no significant correlations with students' dietary practices. This highlights the need to develop interventional and educational school programs in Palestine. This would increase students' awareness of obesity-related knowledge, and at the same time, promote the idea of a healthy diet and lifestyle to them.

Regulatory focus, nutrition involvement, and nutrition knowledge

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutrition and diet related knowledge, attitude, and behavior of elementary school children in Seoul. The subjects included were 439 (male 236, female 203) elementary school children in the 4th to the 6th grades. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 12.0 program. The average obesity index (OI) was 104.98 and 99.82 for male and female subjects, respectively. The average percentage of underweight, normal, overweight and obese of subjects was 33.7%, 32.8%, 12.3%, and 19.4%, respectively. The percentage of the underweight group of female subjects was higher than that of the male subjects. The percentage of the obese group of male subjects was higher than that of the female subjects. The average score of nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitude and dietary behavior was 6.8, 7.44, and 7.34, respectively. Dietary behavior of male subjects was positively correlated with parents' education levels, monthly household income and nutrition attitude. Dietary behavior of female subjects was positively correlated with monthly household income, nutrition knowledge and nutrition attitude. Dietary behavior of female subjects was positively correlated with obesity index (OI). Proper nutrition education and intervention are required for the improvement of elementary school children's nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitudes and dietary behaviors.

Elite sport participation creates a significant burden on adolescent athletes due to demanding training schedules, high training intensities, and the complexity of puberty. As such, an athletes' ability to effectively balance stress and recovery is essential for their athletic performance and requires appropriate management throughout the competitive season. This research aimed to investigate: (i) the quantity, quality, and timing of sleep; (ii) general and sport-specific nutrition knowledge; (iii) recovery practices; and (iv) the relationships between sleep, nutrition, and recovery practices in elite adolescent athletes. A total of 51 athletes completed a battery of previously validated and reliable questionnaires which investigated their sleep characteristics, nutrition knowledge, and recovery practices. Statistically significant moderate correlations were observed between their Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score, Sleep Difficulty Classification (SDC), and Recovery Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (REST-Q Sport) scales, with small significant correlations observed between the SDC and REST-Q recovery scales. Participants had lower scores in both their sport (36.10 ± 12.13) and total (40.25 ± 11.18) nutrition knowledge compared to their general nutrition knowledge (49.53 ± 16.46). Moderate levels of general (1.50 ± 0.86) and sport-specific (1.57 ± 0.85) stress and high levels of general (3.92 ± 0.74) and sport-specific (3.72 ± 0.96) recovery were demonstrated. Furthermore, 94% reported their sleep quality to be "fairly good" (n = 30) or "very good" (n = 18). These findings highlight the necessity of further investigating the effect of educational strategies on improving sleep, nutrition, and recovery knowledge in athletes to aid recovery and dietary behaviours.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and dietary behaviors of clinical nurses from a hospital in Macao, by analyzing the influencing factors and exploring the relationships between these factors. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was performed from December 2021 to January 2022. A total of 198 clinical nurses from a hospital in Macao were selected as the research subjects. The questionnaire used in the survey consisted of the following sections: general demographics, nutritional knowledge, nutritional attitude, and dietary behavior. Results: The average nutritional knowledge score of clinical nurses was 15.33±3.75, while the average nutritional attitude score was 51.54±8.24. Meanwhile, the average dietary behavior score was 66.65±10.05. There was a positive correlation between nutritional knowledge and dietary behavior (p<0.01). Nutritional attitudes were positively correlated with dietary behaviors (p<0.001). Conclusion: (1) Nutritional knowledge of clinical nurses from a hospital in Macao scores relatively high, while nutritional attitude and dietary behavior scored are considered to be mediocre with room for improvement, with variations in scoring between different areas / departments. (2) Gender and medical specialty were the main factors that were linked to nutritional knowledge, while gender, age, working experience and professional title were the main factors that were tied to nutritional attitude and dietary behavior; it should be noted that the nutritional knowledge coming from an academic setting had a relatively minor contribution. (3) There are no significant correlations between nutritional knowledge and nutritional attitude, but there are significant correlations between nutritional knowledge and dietary behavior, as well as nutritional attitude and dietary behavior. It is suggested that hospitals adopt a systematic approach to training that targets the knowledge deficiencies in specific areas / departments, in order to strengthen overall nutritional knowledge of nurses; in addition, there should be targeted training on nutritional attitude and dietary behavior to junior, less experienced nurses. Academic institutions also need to strengthen the curriculum for nutritional education, in order to improve the overall nutritional knowledge of nurses.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and dietary behaviors of clinical nurses from a hospital in Macao, by analyzing the influencing factors and exploring the relationships between these factors. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was performed from December 2021 to January 2022. A total of 198 clinical nurses from a hospital in Macao were selected as the research subjects. The questionnaire used in the survey consisted of the following sections: general demographics, nutritional knowledge, nutritional attitude, and dietary behavior. Results: The average nutritional knowledge score of clinical nurses was 15.33±3.75, while the average nutritional attitude score was 51.54±8.24. Meanwhile, the average dietary behavior score was 66.65±10.05. There was a positive correlation between nutritional knowledge and dietary behavior (p<0.01). Nutritional attitudes were positively correlated with dietary behaviors (p<0.001). Conclusion: (1) Nutritional knowledge of clinical nurses from a hospital in Macao scores relatively high, while nutritional attitude and dietary behavior scored are considered to be mediocre with room for improvement, with variations in scoring between different areas / departments. (2) Gender and medical specialty were the main factors that were linked to nutritional knowledge, while gender, age, working experience and professional title were the main factors that were tied to nutritional attitude and dietary behavior; it should be noted that the nutritional knowledge coming from an academic setting had a relatively minor contribution. (3) There are no significant correlations between nutritional knowledge and nutritional attitude, but there are significant correlations between nutritional knowledge and dietary behavior, as well as nutritional attitude and dietary behavior. It is suggested that hospitals adopt a systematic approach to training that targets the knowledge deficiencies in specific areas / departments, in order to strengthen overall nutritional knowledge of nurses; in addition, there should be targeted training on nutritional attitude and dietary behavior to junior, less experienced nurses. Academic institutions also need to strengthen the curriculum for nutritional education, in order to improve the overall nutritional knowledge of nurses.

3 - Nutrition Knowledge of Vegetarians

Middle-school students (158 boys and 199 girls) and their mothers were asked about nutritional attitudes, nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and food intake using a questionnaire to examine whether nutritional knowledge and dietary behaviors of mothers affected their children's dietary habits. Nutritional attitude scores (total, 15 points) and nutritional knowledge scores (total, 20 points) of girls were 11.24 and 16.13 points, respectively, which were significantly higher than 10.47 and 15.43 points for boys. Generally, mothers received higher points than their children for all scores surveyed, but the results were not significantly different between boys' mothers and girls' mothers. The mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated from dietary nutrient intakes to assess overall quality of meals. The results showed that girls had a higher MAR than that of boys (0.89 vs. 0.86, p < 0.01). Relationships among variables were examined by Pearson's cor- relation coefficient within children and between children and their mothers. Significant positive correlations were ob - served between nutritional attitudes and knowledge in both boys and girls. In girls, positive correlations between nutri- tional attitudes and dietary habits, nutritional knowledge and dietary habits, and dietary habits and MAR were also sig- nificant. In boys, only dietary habits and MAR were correlated with those of their mothers. Nutritional attitudes, dietary habits, and the MAR of girls' mothers were significantly correlated with nutritional attitude, dietary habits and the MAR of girls. The results indicate that the influence of mothers on dietary behaviors of children was greater in girls than that in boys, suggesting that a gender-specific nutrition education program is needed for middle school students. (Korean J Nutr 2011; 44(2): 140 ~ 151)

Purpose: This study was conducted to specify the differences in nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, physical activity, and self-efficacy behaviors based on obesity status among adolescents.Methods: In the study, descriptive-correlational design type was used. The sample of the study consisted of 530 adolescents and their parents selected among 5th grade students studying in five secondary schools by using the stratified random sampling method. The study data were collected using the Family Information Questionnaire, the Nutrition Knowledge Scale,the Diet Behavior Scale,the Children’s Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale and the Exercise Behavior Scale. Adolescents were assessed according to body mass index percentages in overweight - obese and normal weight groups in two groups. SPSS 22 program was used in the analysis of the data. For the data assessment, descriptive statistical methods (mean, median, number, percentage) were used. Pearson’s Chi-Square test was applied for comparison of categorical data. The t-test was performed in between-group comparison of parameters. Results: 50.9% of the adolescents were male and 30% of them n=(159) were found to be overweight and obese according to BMI. There was no significant difference between the BMI normal, and overweight/obese adolescents according to gender, age, income status and the mother’s educational level (p&gt;0.05). The difference between BMI normal and overweight/obese children based on Father’s Educational Level, Mother’s BMI, and Father’s BMI values was significant. As educational level of the father and BMI value of mother and father increased, the rate of overweight-obese adolescents also increased (p&lt;0.05). It was found that adolescents’ mean “physical activity behaviors” was 17.457 ± 3.732; “nutrition knowledge mean score” was 11,330 ± 3,258; “dietary self-efficacy” mean score was 5.138 ± 5.386; “dietary behavior” mean score was 3.694 ± 5.324. The adolescents’ physical activity behaviors were high, self-efficacy behaviors were good, and nutrition knowledge levels and dietary behaviors were at moderate level. Nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, and dietary self-efficacy of overweight and obese adolescents were found to be high (p&lt;0.05). No significant difference was found among the groups based on physical activity behaviors (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: All adolescents' nutritional knowledge and nutritional behavior scores were moderate. Nutrition knowledge, nutritional behavior and nutrition self-efficacy scores were high in overweight / obese adolescents. This result may be due to the fact that adolescents and parents in the overweight and obese group are more cautious about nutritional behavior. It can be said that obese adolescents can not turn into information behaviors. Attempts can be made for this. In this regard, larger studies can be suggested.

Athletes' dietary intakes sometimes do not meet sports nutrition guidelines. Nutrition knowledge (NK) is one factor that may influence dietary intake, but NK measurement tools are often outdated or unvalidated, and results regarding athletes' NK are equivocal. The aims of this systematic review were to update previous systematic reviews by examining athletes' NK and to assess the relationship between athletes' general NK, sport NK and dietary intake. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and Cochrane were searched for studies published between November 2015 and November 2020 that provided a quantitative measure of NK and described the NK tool used. Twenty-eight studies were included, study quality was assessed using JBI checklists and data on NK score and diet intake was extracted. Eight studies utilised validated, up-to-date NK measurement tools. Mean general and sport NK% scores varied between 40·2% ± 12·4 and 70 % ± 9. Mean protein and carbohydrate consumption was 1·1-3·4 g/kg.bw/d and 2·4-4·6 g/kg.bw/d, respectively. Weak-to-moderate, positive associations were found between NK and positive dietary behaviours. Due to a wide variety of NK measurement tools used, it is difficult to synthesise results to determine overall NK in athletes. Overall, there appears to be a low standard of knowledge. Quality of measurement tools for NK has improved but remains an issue. Future studies should use relevant, current validated NK tools or validate tools in their study population. More research is needed into the relationship between NK and other modifiable factors influencing dietary intake.

To explore the relationship between caregivers' nutritional knowledge and children's dietary behavior in rural areas of China. A cross-sectional study was conducted. 3361 rural caregivers and their children, aged 2 to 7 years old, were selected randomly and surveyed by questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to identify the relationship between caregivers' nutritional knowledge and the children's dietary behaviors. The awareness level of nutritional knowledge among rural caregivers was 57.9%; among the children surveyed, 79.6% did not like to drink milk, 66.0% were considered choosy of food, 84.1% regularly snacked, 24.4% frequently skipped breakfast, and 13.7% did not come to meals on time. Logistic regression models indicated that a caregiver with a low level of nutritional knowledge is a risk factor for a child's unhealth dietary behaviors (snacking excepted): the odds ratios (OR) of not liking to drink milk, being choosy about food, skipping breakfast or not having meals on time are 1.665, 1.338, 1.330 and 1.582, respectively. Caregivers' nutritional knowledge is strongly associated with children's dietary behavior. Nutrition education programs are urgently wanted to improve caregiver's knowledge and thus to improve children's dietary behavior in rural areas of China.

Purpose: Nutrition education programmes are often created to improve dietary intake in athletes. Unfortunately, the inconsistent link between nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior suggests that nutrition knowledge may not be a key influencer of dietary behavior. The Knowledge–Attitude–Behavior (KAB) model has been used in nutrition education although studies that evaluated this model were largely compromised by poorly constructed instruments and methodological discrepancies. Method: To improve understanding of the model, a Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (NKQ) and Athlete’s Perspective on Nutrition (APN) instrument was developed using the theory of planned behavior as its theoretical framework. Validity and reliability were examined for 193 Sports Science students and 11 elite netballers. Content and face validity of the 48-item NKQ was confirmed by expert sport dietitians. Discriminant validity of the NKQ and factorial validity of the APN was established. Both instruments demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and good test-retest reliability. The final instruments were administered to elite athletes in a pilot study to understand the KAB model. Results: Correlation between nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior was significant (r = .811, p = .01). Nutrition knowledge was a positive predictor of netballers’ dietary behavior (β = .8, t(2) = 3.899, p = .005) but attitude was not (β = −.097, t(2) = −.471, p = .65). Conclusion: Two psychometrically sound instruments developed in this study can be used to measure nutrition knowledge and attitude in an Asian group of athletes. The pilot study with athletes showed that nutrition knowledge predicted dietary behavior.

Nutrition knowledge and health literacy are critical foundations for healthy dietary behaviors. However, their combined influence on food consumption patterns in Saudi young adults remains underexplored. This research investigated the levels and predictors of nutrition knowledge and health literacy, as well as their impact on food consumption patterns among a group of Saudi Arabian young people. This was an online survey (structured, self-administered questionnaire) using a large convenience sample of students from different universities in Saudi Arabia. Nutrition knowledge, health literacy, and food consumption patterns were evaluated using the validated CoNKS, the HLS-EU-Q16, and a regionally adapted 10-item food group checklist, respectively. Regression models were fitted to evaluate the predictors of nutrition knowledge and health literacy, and their associations with food consumption frequency. The sample comprised 827 participants, aged 18 to 25. The prevalence of unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge was 70.5% and limited health literacy was 58.3%. Significant factors associated with unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge included non-health science major, physical inactivity, no prior nutrition course, night eating syndrome, and limited health literacy. Key factors associated with limited health literacy included age (18-20 years), non-health science major, having an illiterate mother, and unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, satisfactory nutrition knowledge and sufficient health literacy were independently associated with healthier food consumption patterns. Specifically, they were linked to higher odds of consuming fruits and vegetables (nutrition knowledge: OR = 1.76; health literacy: OR = 2.71) and meat, fish, and eggs (nutrition knowledge: OR = 2.67). Unsatisfactory nutrition knowledge was related to high-calorie foods intake (OR = 3.70). Both nutrition knowledge and health literacy are significant, modifiable factors associated with food consumption patterns among study participants. Integrated educational interventions targeting both competencies are recommended to improve dietary behaviors in this population.

Nutrition knowledge is one of the factors that affect nutritional status and nutritional habits of individuals, families, and societies. Nutrition knowledge is an important tool in assessing the nutritional status of an individual, group or community. Researchers have been trying to design and develop reliable and valid questionnaires that distinguish and measure nutrition knowledge and its impact on dietary behavior and diet-health awareness. Many studies have shown that nutrition knowledge can affect someone to follow dietary recommendations. The aim of this study was to assess the nutrition knowledge of Syrian university students and to find out if there was any relationship between anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic status, type of university and nutrition knowledge of the students. Nutritional knowledge was assessed using valid nutrition knowledge questionnaire, which covered six main sections. The questionnaire was designed for this study and was adapted from Parameter and Wardle. The number of students participated in the study was 998 students and were selected from four universities) in Syria. They were asked to complete the nutrition knowledge questionnaire under supervision of trained nutritionist. Anthropometric measurements were taken for all participants by trained professional. The results were statistically analyzed and P 30 had the highest points in TNK. Females had higher TNK score as compared with males. Furthermore, students enrolled in the private university and in health-related programs showed typically better TNK scores than those enrolled in public universities and in nonhealth-related programs. The highest TNK score based on BMI was found among students with BMI >30. The results support the likely value of including nutrition knowledge as a target for health education campaigns aimed at promoting healthy eating.