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Nutrition Knowledge Survey: Summary
Rachel Steinbarger
Liberty University
HLTH-645 Performance Nutrition for the Physically Active
Dr. Catharine Anna Henderson
July 11, 2021
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After reviewing all posted interviews by each class member, I found that there was an
array of individuals interviewed ranging from all ages and activity levels. Through many of the
discussions those who were interviewed and in high school did not have much knowledge and
understanding of nutrition while those who were in college and professional athletes began to
learn and understand more about nutrition as a whole and its importance while performing.
“Student athletes and their advisors often are misinformed or have misconceptions about sports
nutrition.”1 Although, high school athletes and coaches may not have the best knowledge or
resources for nutrition, college and professional athletes have been told that “dietary behaviors
may hinder health status and athletic performance.”2 This shows that there is more importance
and emphasis on nutritional knowledge for these athletes because performance is at a much
higher rate and time period each week.
I also saw that many athletes who were in high school did not care what they ate as they
didn’t understand the importance of what they put in affects their performance. Other athletes at
the college or professional level found help with nutrition in ways of nutritionist or dieticians
who were paid for by the programs or teams themselves. Although, they were given this
information there was much misunderstanding at every athletic level when it comes to nutrition.
“Nutrition communication then includes nutrition education the process by which people are
informed, and sometimes empowered by, nutrition information but also other actions taken to
improve people’s diets such as restricting misinformation about nutrition or manipulating the
composition, availability or price of foods.”3
Many of these individuals interviewed did not have a nutritional eating plan prior to
competition. This is interesting because the importance of nutrition while being an athlete is
extremely high, but while reading these posts I found many just consumed whatever they would
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like while a limited number knew what worked for their bodies to perform at a peak level. The
“nutritional needs for peak athletic performance include sufficient calorie intake, adequate
hydration, and attention to timing of meals.”1 Hydration seems to be something many of the
athletes knew about, but the importance of timing meals and calorie intake was the biggest
missing pieces.
The last portion of these interviews I found is there was a limited number of people
interviewed who used supplements to enhance their sport performance. If they were using
supplements many of these individuals could not give you a reason behind using them. On the
other hand, there was a couple of athletes who knew what they needed to gain when it comes to
the use of supplements before or after workouts because of the pieces of their diet that was
lacking. Most of these athletes knew protein was important especially those who were collegiate
or professional athletes or individuals who were older and began to understand the importance of
nutrition for life after sports.
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References:
1. Cotunga N, Vickery CE, McBee S. Sports nutrition for young athletes. J Sch Nurs.
2005;21(6):323-328.
2. Dunn D, Turner LW, Denny G. Nutrition knowledge and attitudes of college athletes.
Sport J. 2007;10.
3. J RM. Nutrition communication from theory to practice: some future perspectives.
Published online 2003.
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