Athletes Nutrition Knowledge And Dietary Habits: A Survey Based Questionnaire.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional knowledge and dietary habits of athletes and identify potential gaps between knowledge and practice. The initial target was to recruit 100-150 participants; however, due to time constraints and participant availability, 63 individuals initiated the survey, and 44 completed it. A 47-item questionnaire, adapted from validated instruments, assessed general nutritional knowledge and dietary habits, categorizing scores into "excellent," "good," "fair," and "poor." The findings revealed that while the majority of participants scored within the "good" category for nutritional knowledge, their dietary habits were primarily categorized as "fair." Statistical analyses showed no significant correlation between nutritional knowledge and dietary habits, suggesting that greater knowledge does not necessarily lead to healthier eating practices. This study underscores the need for practical, tailored interventions to bridge the gap between knowledge and application, thereby improving athletes' dietary habits, performance, and overall health.