Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer Players

Whereas nutrition has a crucial role on sport performance, it is not clear to what extent nutrition knowledge is associated with physical fitness. The aim of this study was to examine the current level of nutrition knowledge of soccer players and whether this level is associated with physical fitnes...

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Main Authors: P. T. Nikolaidis, E. Theodoropoulou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Scientifica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/180353
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author P. T. Nikolaidis
E. Theodoropoulou
author_facet P. T. Nikolaidis
E. Theodoropoulou
author_sort P. T. Nikolaidis
collection DOAJ
description Whereas nutrition has a crucial role on sport performance, it is not clear to what extent nutrition knowledge is associated with physical fitness. The aim of this study was to examine the current level of nutrition knowledge of soccer players and whether this level is associated with physical fitness. Soccer players (n=185, aged 21.3±4.9 yr, weight 72.3±8.4 kg, and height 177.5±6.4 cm) performed a battery of physical fitness tests (sit-and-reach test, SAR; physical working capacity in heart rate 170, PWC170; and Wingate anaerobic test, WAnT) and completed an 11-item nutrition knowledge questionnaire (NKQ). Low to moderate Pearson correlations (0.15<r<0.34, p<0.05) of NKQ with age, weight, height, fat free mass (FFM), SAR, peak power, and mean power of WAnT were observed. Soccer players with high score in NKQ were older (4.4 yr (2.2; 6.6), mean difference (95% confidence intervals)) and heavier (4.5 kg (0.6; 8.3)) with higher FFM (4.0 kg (1.1; 6.8)) and peak power (59 W (2; 116)) than their counterparts with low score. The moderate score in the NKQ suggests that soccer players should be targeted for nutrition education. Although the association between NKQ and physical fitness was low to moderate, there were indications that better nutrition knowledge might result in higher physical fitness and, consequently, soccer performance.
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spelling doaj-art-a4a9d9dc6a8644ef91b1f1742263e90d2025-08-20T02:23:05ZengWileyScientifica2090-908X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/180353180353Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer PlayersP. T. Nikolaidis0E. Theodoropoulou1Department of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy, 16672 Athens, GreeceFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Athens, 17237 Athens, GreeceWhereas nutrition has a crucial role on sport performance, it is not clear to what extent nutrition knowledge is associated with physical fitness. The aim of this study was to examine the current level of nutrition knowledge of soccer players and whether this level is associated with physical fitness. Soccer players (n=185, aged 21.3±4.9 yr, weight 72.3±8.4 kg, and height 177.5±6.4 cm) performed a battery of physical fitness tests (sit-and-reach test, SAR; physical working capacity in heart rate 170, PWC170; and Wingate anaerobic test, WAnT) and completed an 11-item nutrition knowledge questionnaire (NKQ). Low to moderate Pearson correlations (0.15<r<0.34, p<0.05) of NKQ with age, weight, height, fat free mass (FFM), SAR, peak power, and mean power of WAnT were observed. Soccer players with high score in NKQ were older (4.4 yr (2.2; 6.6), mean difference (95% confidence intervals)) and heavier (4.5 kg (0.6; 8.3)) with higher FFM (4.0 kg (1.1; 6.8)) and peak power (59 W (2; 116)) than their counterparts with low score. The moderate score in the NKQ suggests that soccer players should be targeted for nutrition education. Although the association between NKQ and physical fitness was low to moderate, there were indications that better nutrition knowledge might result in higher physical fitness and, consequently, soccer performance.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/180353
spellingShingle P. T. Nikolaidis
E. Theodoropoulou
Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
Scientifica
title Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
title_full Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
title_fullStr Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
title_short Relationship between Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Fitness in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
title_sort relationship between nutrition knowledge and physical fitness in semiprofessional soccer players
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/180353
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