Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionThe increasing use of digital tools in education offers innovative ways to improve health behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application intervention in enhancing sports nutrition knowledge and improving dietary habits among university student-athletes.M...

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Main Authors: Walaa Jumah AlKasasbeh, Adam Tawfiq Amawi, Sabah Jamil Al-Nawaiseh, Deefallah Alshorman, Kawthar Alshdaifat, Thekra Alawamleh, Bekir Erhan Orhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1622166/full
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author Walaa Jumah AlKasasbeh
Adam Tawfiq Amawi
Sabah Jamil Al-Nawaiseh
Deefallah Alshorman
Kawthar Alshdaifat
Thekra Alawamleh
Bekir Erhan Orhan
author_facet Walaa Jumah AlKasasbeh
Adam Tawfiq Amawi
Sabah Jamil Al-Nawaiseh
Deefallah Alshorman
Kawthar Alshdaifat
Thekra Alawamleh
Bekir Erhan Orhan
author_sort Walaa Jumah AlKasasbeh
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe increasing use of digital tools in education offers innovative ways to improve health behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application intervention in enhancing sports nutrition knowledge and improving dietary habits among university student-athletes.MethodsA total of 100 university student-athletes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 50), which utilized the “MyFitnessPal” mobile application for nutrition education, or a control group (n = 50), which received traditional lecture-based instruction. Both groups completed validated pre- and post-intervention questionnaires over a three-month period to assess changes in sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits.ResultsThe experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in both sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits compared to the control group (p < 0.05).DiscussionThese findings suggest that mobile applications like “MyFitnessPal” are more effective than traditional educational methods in enhancing nutritional awareness and promoting healthier dietary behaviors among student-athletes. Mobile application-based interventions can play a key role in improving athletic performance and overall health. Future research should explore the long-term impact and generalizability of such interventions across diverse athletic populations.
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spelling doaj-art-c7f072186a3a467dba53a621633943b32025-08-20T04:03:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-08-011010.3389/feduc.2025.16221661622166Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trialWalaa Jumah AlKasasbeh0Adam Tawfiq Amawi1Sabah Jamil Al-Nawaiseh2Deefallah Alshorman3Kawthar Alshdaifat4Thekra Alawamleh5Bekir Erhan Orhan6Department of Administration and Curriculum, Program of Sports Management and Training, Faculty of Arts and Educational Sciences, Middle East University, Amman, JordanDepartment of Movement Sciences and Sports Training, School of Sport Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanDepartment of Educational Technology, Faculty of Arts and Educational Sciences, Middle East University, Amman, JordanDepartment of Educational Technology, Faculty of Arts and Educational Sciences, Middle East University, Amman, JordanDepartment of Educational Technology, Faculty of Arts and Educational Sciences, Middle East University, Amman, JordanDepartment of Physical Education, School of Sport Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanFaculty of Sports Sciences, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, TürkiyeIntroductionThe increasing use of digital tools in education offers innovative ways to improve health behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application intervention in enhancing sports nutrition knowledge and improving dietary habits among university student-athletes.MethodsA total of 100 university student-athletes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 50), which utilized the “MyFitnessPal” mobile application for nutrition education, or a control group (n = 50), which received traditional lecture-based instruction. Both groups completed validated pre- and post-intervention questionnaires over a three-month period to assess changes in sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits.ResultsThe experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in both sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits compared to the control group (p < 0.05).DiscussionThese findings suggest that mobile applications like “MyFitnessPal” are more effective than traditional educational methods in enhancing nutritional awareness and promoting healthier dietary behaviors among student-athletes. Mobile application-based interventions can play a key role in improving athletic performance and overall health. Future research should explore the long-term impact and generalizability of such interventions across diverse athletic populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1622166/fullmobile applicationsports nutrition knowledgeeating habitsundergraduate studenteducational interventionsdietary habits
spellingShingle Walaa Jumah AlKasasbeh
Adam Tawfiq Amawi
Sabah Jamil Al-Nawaiseh
Deefallah Alshorman
Kawthar Alshdaifat
Thekra Alawamleh
Bekir Erhan Orhan
Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trial
Frontiers in Education
mobile application
sports nutrition knowledge
eating habits
undergraduate student
educational interventions
dietary habits
title Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student-athletes: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort educational intervention using a mobile app to enhance sports nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in student athletes a randomized controlled trial
topic mobile application
sports nutrition knowledge
eating habits
undergraduate student
educational interventions
dietary habits
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1622166/full
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