General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes
Introduction Most youth do not meet national nutrition recommendations and overconsume high-calorie, low nutrient-dense foods. Adequate nutritional intake is crucial for growth and development. Nutrition practices play a key role in sports performance and recovery. Nutritional knowledge can affect e...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2477060 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849761976861851648 |
|---|---|
| author | Ronald L. Gibbs Tyler Brian Becker |
| author_facet | Ronald L. Gibbs Tyler Brian Becker |
| author_sort | Ronald L. Gibbs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Most youth do not meet national nutrition recommendations and overconsume high-calorie, low nutrient-dense foods. Adequate nutritional intake is crucial for growth and development. Nutrition practices play a key role in sports performance and recovery. Nutritional knowledge can affect eating patterns. However, there is limited research on general and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes.Purpose To examine general and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes.Methods Adolescent athletes were assessed on nutrition knowledge and general and sport-specific nutrition behaviors, including food group consumption, hydration practices, and sport supplement use. Gender differences in general and sport-specific nutrition behaviors were compared using a Mann-Whitney U test. Odds ratios and logistic regression, controlling for age, ethnicity, and years in sport participation were used to determine differences in correct responses between genders. Significance was set at the p < 0.05 level.Results One hundred and ninety-four athletes (n = 63 male, n = 132 female, mean age = 14.9 ± 1.63 years) were assessed. Differences in nutrition behaviors were found in fruit, dairy, and sugary beverage consumption between genders. Male athletes were more likely to monitor hydration and use sports supplements. Both males and females scored less than 50% on both general and sport-specific knowledge questions.Conclusion Adolescent athletes report lower than recommended food group consumption and lack knowledge of general and sport-specific nutrition information. Improvements in these areas can play a significant role in the health and performance of adolescent athletes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f14541557eb4e16be2679cd51aa2eef |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1550-2783 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f14541557eb4e16be2679cd51aa2eef2025-08-20T03:05:52ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition1550-27832025-12-0122110.1080/15502783.2025.2477060General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletesRonald L. Gibbs0Tyler Brian Becker1Michigan State University, Michigan State University Extension - Health and Nutrition Institute, East Lansing, MI, USAMichigan State University, Michigan State University Extension - Health and Nutrition Institute, East Lansing, MI, USAIntroduction Most youth do not meet national nutrition recommendations and overconsume high-calorie, low nutrient-dense foods. Adequate nutritional intake is crucial for growth and development. Nutrition practices play a key role in sports performance and recovery. Nutritional knowledge can affect eating patterns. However, there is limited research on general and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes.Purpose To examine general and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes.Methods Adolescent athletes were assessed on nutrition knowledge and general and sport-specific nutrition behaviors, including food group consumption, hydration practices, and sport supplement use. Gender differences in general and sport-specific nutrition behaviors were compared using a Mann-Whitney U test. Odds ratios and logistic regression, controlling for age, ethnicity, and years in sport participation were used to determine differences in correct responses between genders. Significance was set at the p < 0.05 level.Results One hundred and ninety-four athletes (n = 63 male, n = 132 female, mean age = 14.9 ± 1.63 years) were assessed. Differences in nutrition behaviors were found in fruit, dairy, and sugary beverage consumption between genders. Male athletes were more likely to monitor hydration and use sports supplements. Both males and females scored less than 50% on both general and sport-specific knowledge questions.Conclusion Adolescent athletes report lower than recommended food group consumption and lack knowledge of general and sport-specific nutrition information. Improvements in these areas can play a significant role in the health and performance of adolescent athletes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2477060Sports nutrition; adolescent nutritionhealth educationyouth sports |
| spellingShingle | Ronald L. Gibbs Tyler Brian Becker General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Sports nutrition; adolescent nutrition health education youth sports |
| title | General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes |
| title_full | General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes |
| title_fullStr | General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes |
| title_short | General and sport-specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes |
| title_sort | general and sport specific nutrition knowledge and behaviors of adolescent athletes |
| topic | Sports nutrition; adolescent nutrition health education youth sports |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2477060 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ronaldlgibbs generalandsportspecificnutritionknowledgeandbehaviorsofadolescentathletes AT tylerbrianbecker generalandsportspecificnutritionknowledgeandbehaviorsofadolescentathletes |