Youth Hydration Knowledge, Habits, and Self-Reported Environmental Symptoms During Summer Football Camp

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quantify environmental symptoms experienced during camp and changes in hydration knowledge and habits of campers with and without an educational intervention (EI). METHODS: Thirty-five boys ages 9–15 (mean ± SD: 12±2y, 156 ± 12 cm, 52.9 ± 13.6 kg, 4 ± 2 y football experience) practiced (∼6 h) daily for 5 days (WBGT: 25.6 ± 0.5°C). Subjects were randomly assigned to a non-intervention (NI) or EI group. EI took place in the evening on days 1–4 and lasted ∼5 min. Hydration habits (HHQ) and hydration awareness (HAQ) questionnaires were given prior to and on day 4 of camp. Hydration exit questionnaires (HEQ) were given on day 4. A modified environmental symptoms questionnaire (ESQ) was done before breakfast (AM) and dinner (PM) daily. RESULTS: When compared to day 2AM, ESQ scores declined and were significantly lower on day 3PM through day 5AM (p<0.05). ESQ did not differ between EI and NI (P>0.05). Thirst responses were not correlated with urine osmolality (r=0.04, P>0.05, Uosm) across EI or NI. Perceptual adequacy of hydration was correlated with Uosm (r=−0.44, p=0.01). A significantly number of campers wished they could have increased fluid consumption during camp (p=0.008). HAQ revealed a significant number of campers thought that darker urine color indicated dehydration pre and post camp (p<0.001). When surveyed for fluid sources, 63 and 54% reported a water bottle from home or team cooler, respectively. Subjects commonly reported crowded water stations and coaches as hindrances to drinking fluids. HAQ did not differ pre to post camp or between EI andNI (P>0.05). A significant (p<0.05) number of subjects thought it was important to drink before (93%), during (98%), and after (85%) football activities prior to camp, with no significant differences between group or over time (P>0.05). A significant number of campers reported that adequate hydration decreases chances of a heat illness (p<0.001), independent of group assignment or time (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Decreases in ESQ over the course of a 5-day camp likely were due to either acclimatization or a decrease in exercise intensity. Thirst was not an adequate predictor of actual hydration status. Youth understood hydration indices and rehydration timing as important factors in their overall hydration status. Supported by Gatorade Sports Science Institute®.