Knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and dietary intake of young university athletes following sports nutrition education

Nur Najiah Zaidani Kamarun Zaman; Ayu Suzailiana Muhamad; Mohd Rahimi Che Jusoh

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Knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and dietary intake of young university athletes following sports nutrition education

Author: Nur Najiah Zaidani Kamarun Zaman ¹ ; Ayu Suzailiana Muhamad ¹ ; Mohd Rahimi Che Jusoh ¹
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1. Exercise and Sports Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Health Campus Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP), dietary intake, sports nutrition education, athletes
From: Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2021;27(No.2):189-200
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Introduction: Nutrition plays a vital role in sports. Athletes must understand the importance of diet and ensure that they meet the nutrient requirements to enhance sports performance. The lack of understanding in sports nutrition will lead to poor dietary practices that can cause detrimental effects on athletic achievements. This study aims to evaluate the effects of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding sports nutrition and dietary intake among young university athletes. Methods: Twenty-one local university athletes (23.8±3.4 years) were recruited, and their anthropometric and socio-demographic data were assessed. All participants attended a 1-day sports nutrition class. The KAP-Sports nutrition questionnaire was administered. Three days of dietary intake were also recorded at the same timepoints among the participants. Results: There was a significant increment (p<0.05) in the mean scores for KAP among the participants. Total energy and total carbohydrate intakes per day were significantly increased (p<0.05). However, overall protein and fat intakes did not improve as the readings were higher than the recommended values. Conclusion: In this study, sports nutrition education improved participants’ KAP, but not the actual dietary intake. Changes in habit require more effort, with extra attention on protein and fat intakes.
Full text:4.2021my0535.pdf