title: Nutrition knowledge, opinions, and practices of coaches and athletic trainers at a division 1 university.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to assess nutrition knowledge, opinions, and practices of coaches and trainers at a Division I university. Participants (n = 53) completed questionnaires regarding nutrition knowledge, opinions, and practices. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were used to analyze data. Overall, participants responded correctly to 67% of nutrition knowledge questions. Participants who coached/trained female athletes tended to score better than respondents who coached/trained male athletes. Strength and conditioning coaches and participants with greater than 15 years of experience scored higher than other participants. Nutrition opinions/practices responses revealed that nutritional supplements were provided for all but 6% of participants' athletes. Participants rated body weight as more important than body composition to athletes' performances. Over 30% of participants perceived at least one case of disordered eating within the past year. Some participants (53%) felt that athletes may consume more nutritious meals on team-sponsored trips if given larger food allowances. Thirty percent of participants reported dietitians were available to them; the same percentage reported utilizing dietitians. Coaches and trainers are knowledgeable about some appropriate nutritional recommendations, but registered dietitians or qualified sports nutrition professionals may complement the nutrition-related education and counseling of athletes (23).
authors.affiliation: University of Athletic Association, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith-Rockwell
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nickols-Richardson
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Thye
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D003625:Data Collection; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D013177:Sports; D013178:Sports Medicine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D014495:Universities