Original scientific paper

General nutrition knowledge among professional soccer players

Ivana Dragičević ; Prehrambeno - biotehnološki fakultet
Zvonimir Šatalić orcid.org/0000-0001-7688-2765 ; Prehrambeno - biotehnološki fakultet

Abstract

Greater sports nutrition knowledge is expected among professional athletes, i.e. sport specific nutrition knowledge, however, general nutrition knowledge can be flawed. Giving the relatively early retirement, general eating habits among athletes are very important as a risk factor for developing chronic diseases as the eating patterns formed in young adulthood track during the later stages of life. The number of studies about general nutrition knowledge among athletes is limited and they show poor general nutrition knowledge.
The aim of the present study was to investigate and benchmark the level of general nutrition knowledge in professional Croatian soccer players (n=50, 18 – 27 years) against non-athlete peers. Both soccer players and controls completed the General nutrition knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ), which assesses four domains of general nutrition knowledge: 1) dietary guidelines, 2) dietary sources of nutrients, 3) daily food choices and 4) diet-disease relationship.
Overall nutrition knowledge was poor in both groups and there was no significant difference between soccer players and the controls in overall or sub-section score. This study shows lack of general nutrition knowledge among young Croatian soccer players, despite the importance of sports nutrition for their profession.
In order of long-term prevention of chronic diseases in this population, results of this study can be used to create tailored general nutrition education focused on observed general nutrition knowledge gaps.

Keywords

soccer players; healthy diet; general nutrition knowledge

Hrčak ID:

154797

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154797

Publication date:

31.12.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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