Nutrition Knowledge, Practices, Attitudes, and Information Sources of Mid-American Conference College Softball Players

Abstract

The number of women participating in softball at the collegiate level continues to rise, yet little is known about collegiate softball players' knowledge about sport nutrition. The purpose of this study was to collect information from Mid-American Conference softball players to determine their current knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to sport nutrition and to identify their preferred sources for obtaining sport nutrition information

Sports Nutrition Knowledge among Mid-Major Division I University Student-Athletes

“…Research conducted by Hornstrom et al found similar results when comparing nutrition knowledge scores of softball players with no differences in scores between class years [12]. The years of experience in a college setting do not seem to have an effect on the amount of sports nutrition knowledge in student-athletes.…”

“…In looking at sports nutrition knowledge in specific teams, Hornstrom et al studied nutrition knowledge, choices, and practices in 185 collegiate conference softball players [12]. The sports nutrition knowledge mean score on their questionnaire was only 45.7 (4.7) out of 80 points or 57.1%.…”

“…The lower the sports nutrition knowledge scores were, the more the athletes reported poorer eating behaviors. The softball players were most likely to contact a physician to obtain nutrition knowledge, followed by an athletic trainer, college courses, and then a Dietitian [12]. Zawila et al assessed sports nutrition knowledge and attitudes of 60 female collegiate cross-country runners in two Midwest states.…”

Assessment of Nutritional Knowledge of Lebanese Coaches: A Unique Study in the Middle East and North African (MENA) Region

“…It is worth mentioning that trainers of this study, who gave nutrition advice to their athletes obtained a significantly higher percentage of correct answers (54.5%), and a percentage of uncertain answers (10.22%) that was significantly lower than those, who did not give advice (47.7% and 15.9%, respectively). Recent research proves that athletes do not have enough nutritional knowledge (5,6,11,16,17), and their nutritional intake is inadequate to support health and performance (16,(18)(19)(20). Consequently, trainers in Lebanon must rely on adequate knowledge while disseminating factual nutritional information.…”

The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) and Nutrition Knowledge

“…The literature includes studies examining knowledge regarding the topics of nutrition and health, as well as the nutritional states of individuals of different age, sex, and ethnic groups from different professions throughout countries around the world [25,26]. One common thread of these studies is a relationship between levels of nutritional knowledge and the state of the individual's food consumption.…”