The prevalance of nutritional knowledge in individual sports among Uitm perlis athetles

Mohd Azna Maziera Md Zaid

Abstract

Athletes' food habits and nutritional understanding are closely related and have a significant impact on their performance. Athletes should always consider the importance of nutrition in their growth and development but yet, there still lacks study on nutrition knowledge toward individual sports. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in prevalence of nutritional knowledge between genders among UiTM Perlis athletes who are playing individual sports. One-hundred and seventeen athletes has completed the Component of Nutritional Questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 30 questions which test the nutrition knowledge of the athletes. The questionnaire was divided into two sections which consist of section A (covered demographics questions) and section B (the nutritional knowledge questions). The data showed the mean nutrition knowledge score of female athletes (18.98 ± 2.64) was slightly higher compared to male athletes (18.78 ± 2.27), (p = 0.65). The prevalence of nutritional knowledge among UiTM Perlis athletes did not differ significantly by gender across individual sports; however, this study concludes that athletes have sufficient nutritional knowledge to successfully create an environment that can lead to improved performance and good health. Keywords: Nutrition knowledge, athletes, gender, individual sports, sports performance

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