TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Urhan, Murat
AU  -  Karataş, Ezgi
AU  -  Nagihan Akder, Rana
AU  -  Akanalçi, Ceren
AU  -  Nalçakan, Mesut
T1  -  Evaluation of nutrition knowledge level and eating attitude in adolescent athletes: cross-sectional study
PY  -  2025
Y1  -  2025-04-01
DO  -  10.1728/4594.46021
JO  -  Medicina dello Sport
JA  -  Med Sport
VL  -  78
IS  -  2
SP  -  145
EP  -  152
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  1827-1863
Y2  -  2026/04/04
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1728/4594.46021
N2  -  Summary. Background. It is of great importance for athletes to have adequate nutritional knowledge in order to maintain a healthy diet and high sports performance. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the nutritional knowledge levels of adolescent athletes in different disciplines and to determine the proportion of athletes at risk of eating disorders. Materials and methods. This study was conducted with 120 adolescent athletes (elite level n=75, licensed amateur n=45) participating in different sports disciplines in Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club. Data were collected by face-to-face interview method with a questionnaire form including demographic variables, information about the sports branch, eating habits, Sports Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (SNKQ) and Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26). Results. The total nutritional knowledge scores of the athletes were 34.4 ± 8.34 (highest score: 78). An eating disorder risk was found in 15.8% of the participants. The mean EAT-26 scores of individual athletes were higher than team athletes and individual male athletes were higher than individual female athletes (p=0.021; p=0.001, respectively). According to the nutritional knowledge score, the age and sports history of the athletes in the 3rd tertile were significantly higher than those in the 1st tertile (p<0.05). Conclusions. In order to increase the nutritional knowledge level of adolescent athletes, comprehensive trainings for athletes, coaches and families of athletes should be given by dietitians. Continuity of trainings and dietitian-athlete communication should be ensured.
ER  -