Document Type

Masters Project

Abstract

During adolescence, athletes are at risk of failing to meet dietary recommendations due to their bodies' demand for additional energy during physical activity. For adolescent athletes, data on sport nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) are limited, especially when studied collectively. This project analyzed the impact of nutrition education on KAB of adolescent male hockey players with the incorporation of measurement of maximal oxygen consumption. A single arm trial was conducted with participants and parents/guardians from the Team Alaska 16U and 18U hockey teams. Pre intervention, the participants completed a demographics survey, the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ), to assess nutrition knowledge; validated surveys for nutrition-related attitudes and behaviors; and the Bruce protocol test to measure maximal oxygen consumption (VO2MAX). The intervention included four group nutrition education sessions and four individual counseling sessions. Post intervention, the participants again completed the ANSK-Q, the nutrition-related attitude and behavior surveys, VO2MAX, and an exposure survey. Participants exhibited a knowledge increase of 21.43% after completing the educational sessions, with general nutrition knowledge increasing by 31.82% and sports nutrition knowledge increasing by 16.67%. Participants reported attitude changes and behavior changes. A nutrition education and counseling program intervention for adolescent male hockey players could improve both general and sports nutrition knowledge, as well as attitudes and behaviors related to nutrition. Further research is needed on how athletic performance can be improved through nutrition education and counseling.

Publication Date

5-1-2023

Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/11122/13201

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