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Nutritional knowledge of professional athletes
The study found that the nutritional knowledge of professional athletes in the Iranian population was suboptimal. This indicates that, on average, athletes have only moderate nutritional knowledge. The wide range of scores suggests that there is considerable variation in knowledge levels among athletes.
Various studies highlight disparities in nutritional knowledge among different athlete populations. Vázquez-Espino et al. [24] found low median scores among professional soccer players in Spain (25.1), resembling high school students (19.5) and university Philosophy students (29.0). Contrarily, sports technical teams (58.5) and final year Human Nutrition and Dietetics students (74.6) scored significantly higher. Ahmadi et al. [35] observed a mean nutrition knowledge of 66% of high school athletes in Tehran. Trabucco et al. [36] reported good nutritional knowledge in Italian medical school student-athletes (66.7%) and slightly lower in Serbian students (63%). Nazni and Vimala [37] found varying levels among Indian athletes: volleyball players (42% good knowledge), weightlifters (43% satisfactory), and runners (29% very good). Conversely, Sangeetha and Ramaswamy [38] noted a lack of proper nutrition knowledge among college athletes in India. Folasire et al. [32] reported that 58.2% of Nigerian undergraduate athletes have good nutritional knowledge. Shakeel et al. [39] found 75.2% of Pakistani university sports students had good knowledge of healthy dietary practices. Ali et al. [40] highlighted disparities between male (fair knowledge, 57%) and female (poor knowledge, 49%) university student-athletes in Pakistan. Serhan et al. [41] noted inadequate nutrition knowledge (mean < 75%) among university athletes in Lebanon. Bakhtiar et al. [23] revealed 57.3% satisfactory nutrition knowledge among adolescent trainee athletes in Bangladesh. Sunuwar et al. [42] found over half Nepalese Taekwondo players with poor nutrition knowledge. Kathure et al. [43] indicated that most elite athletes in Kenya had adequate nutrition knowledge (above 50%). Aishwarya [44] reported a mean score of 51.9% in nutritional knowledge among physical education students in India. Bio Nigan et al. [45] observed good hydration performance and high knowledge levels among handball player students compared to non-athletes. Dunnigan et al. [46] highlighted low nutritional knowledge among Clemson University athletes (mean score of 11.59 ± 3.14 or 46.3%).
The trend of suboptimal nutritional knowledge among athletes is concerning, as proper nutrition is crucial for optimizing athletic performance. Athletes need to be well-informed about the role of various nutrients, dietary requirements, and strategies to meet their specific performance goals. The variation in scores may highlight the need for targeted nutrition education interventions to address the knowledge gaps among athletes.
Nutritional attitude among professional athletes
The current study revealed that professional athletes displayed weak nutritional attitudes. This indicates that, on average, athletes had a less favorable attitude towards nutrition. Despite the results of the current study displaying weak nutritional attitude, many other studies showed good of fair levels of attitude in athletic populations.
Several studies have evaluated athletes’ attitudes toward nutrition. Ahmadi et al. [35] found that high school athletes in Iran had a nutrition attitude mean of 63.4%. Trabucco et al. [36] observed positive attitudes and good nutritional knowledge among students practicing sports in Italy and Serbia. Shakeel et al. [39] noted that 64.4% of participants had a positive attitude toward making proper food choices. Bakhtiar et al. [23] found a 57% positive attitude among Bangladeshi athletes. Aishwarya [44] reported excellent attitudes (41%) among Indian physical education students regarding food and nutrition. On the other hand, Dunnigan et al. [46] showed low nutritional attitudes among athletes, while Azizi et al. [47] recorded varied mean nutritional attitudes among male and female athletes. Bio Nigan et al. [45] found no difference in attitude between athlete and non-athlete groups.
Despite no significant difference between genders in the current study, both male and female athletes exhibited weak nutritional attitudes. Nutritional attitudes can significantly impact dietary practices and, consequently, athletic performance. The lack of positive attitudes toward nutrition highlights the importance of promoting a positive nutritional mindset among athletes. The trend of weak nutritional attitudes among athletes suggests that they may not prioritize nutrition as a key factor in their athletic performance. Positive attitudes towards nutrition are essential for promoting healthy dietary practices and adherence to proper nutrition guidelines. Improving athletes’ attitudes towards nutrition may lead to better dietary choices and, ultimately, enhanced performance.
Nutritional practice of professional athletes
The present study found that the mean nutritional performance score of professional athletes indicated moderate dietary practices. The moderate nutritional performance score indicates that athletes’ actual dietary practices are relatively better than their knowledge and attitudes. However, there is room for improvement in dietary behaviors. Education on implementing sound nutritional knowledge into daily practices is crucial for optimizing. The following studies demonstrate moderate and good levels of athletic nutritional practice.
Monte Calbo et al. [48] examined college athletes’ nutritional knowledge and performance in Filipino population. Their results demonstrated that their nutritional performance was moderate, and there was no significant relationship between age and gender. They also showed a significant relationship between nutritional knowledge and performance; thus, athletes with higher nutritional knowledge had better nutritional performance. The results of the study by Folasire et al. [32] demostrate good nutrition practices (62.7%) in Nigerian athletes. In the study by Bakhtiar et al. [23] the participants displayed good nutrition practices (57.69%). Although the study by Bio Nigan et al. [45] monitored hydration and not other aspects of dietary practices, it still showcases how high knowledge can contribute to elevated levels of athletic performance. The study by Ahmadi et al. [35] also showed mean values for nutrition practice was 48.71%.
However, in the study by Shakeel et al. [39], the actual practices of the participants were poor and did not align with their good knowledge and attitude level; only about 57.4% of the students implemented their knowledge in their practices, suggesting a gap between knowledge and behavior. Sunuwar et al. [42] also indicated a poor level of nutrition practice (55.3%) in Taekwondo athletes in Nepal.
Although the trend toward moderate nutritional performance implies that while athletes may have a relatively better grasp of putting their nutritional knowledge into practice, there is still room for improvement. Implementing sound nutritional practices can consistently have a significant impact on athletes’ overall health and performance. By enhancing their dietary practices, athletes can potentially achieve better athletic outcomes.
Relationship between nutritional KAP components
The findings of the present study revealed an association between these key variables of KAP, reinforcing the interconnectedness of these components. The correlation analysis demonstrated a positive and statistically significant relationship among the different components of KAP (p < 0.05). Knowledge and attitude were positively correlated, with a moderate correlation coefficient of r = 0.302. This indicates that athletes who possessed higher levels of nutritional knowledge tended to have more positive attitudes towards nutrition, and vice versa. This highlights the fact that a better understanding of nutrition may foster a more positive attitude towards making healthier dietary choices.
Furthermore, the correlation analysis also established a positive but weak relationship between knowledge and performance (r = 0.113). This result suggests that while there is some degree of association between nutritional knowledge and actual dietary performance, the relationship is not as strong as the knowledge-attitude association. Nevertheless, it still indicates that athletes with greater nutritional knowledge are more likely to exhibit improved dietary practices, contributing to better overall performance in their respective sports.
Also, a positive and moderate correlation was observed between attitude and performance (r = 0.260). This suggests that athletes with more positive attitudes towards nutrition are likely to demonstrate better nutritional practices, resulting in enhanced performance outcomes. The positive association between attitude and performance supports the significance of mental and psychological factors in influencing athletes’ dietary choices and, subsequently, their athletic achievements.
Potential reasons for low nutritional KAP scores
Nutritional knowledge and behavior are not the only factor affecting the nutritional performance of individuals and can be influenced by several factors. The potential impact of the education system, media, and social factors can also contribute to low levels of athletes’ nutritional KAP. Misleading information from unreliable sources may hinder athletes’ ability to make informed dietary decisions; therefore, implementing nutrition education programs and promoting evidence-based nutritional information can help athletes distinguish accurate advice from misinformation. Other factors including the person’s physiological needs, mental self-image, access to food, social media influences, food preferences, and the performance of friends and relatives also affect nutritional performance [49].
Limitations of the study
Despite some limitations in the study, such as incomplete coverage of all sports clubs and imbalances in age and academic level groups, the research provides valuable insights into athletes’ nutritional KAP in Qazvin province, Iran. Future studies on a larger scale can further explore athletes’ nutritional knowledge and mindset and evaluate other dietary factors that impact athletic performance, including food availability, socio-economic variables, and micronutrients.
Recommendations and future directions
Previous studies have also shown the positive impact of nutritional knowledge on dietary practices and performance. However, this study observed lower-than-optimal nutritional KAP among athletes, indicating a need for further improvement and education.
Nutrition education and support
The study suggests practical dietary recommendations to improve athletes’ nutritional knowledge, such as obtaining information from reliable academic sources and not relying on myths or word-of-mouth. Incorporating nutrition education into the training programs of professional sports clubs is essential. Hiring certified informative nutritionists in sports clubs could also help enhance developing personalized dietary plans for athletes, considering their specific nutritional needs and performance goals, subsequently elevating athletes’ nutrition knowledge and performance.
Further research
Future studies should explore nutritional KAP on a larger scale, including national and international populations of athletes as this issue is not unique to Iran and it underscores the need for global efforts to improve athletes’ nutritional knowledge and practices. Additionally, evaluating the impact of micronutrients on athletic performance could provide valuable insights into optimizing dietary practices.
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