Fuel Your Game: A Nutrition Education Mini-Series For High School Athletes In Rural Appalachia

Research shows adolescents do not practice healthy eating behaviors and possess limited nutrition knowledge, including adolescents involved in sports. The objective of this study was to pilot an interactive nutrition education program to improve nutrition knowledge and behaviors in this population. In total, 25 high school athletes were recruited to participate in this study which included three education sessions focusing on general nutrition, hydration and performance, and food related skill building. Data were gathered pre and post intervention using a validated nutrition knowledge questionnaire and the ASA24 Dietary Assessment Tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Baseline data revealed nutrition knowledge deficits with mean scores inall questionnaire categories below 50 percent. ASA24 data showed that on average participants failed to meet recommended daily targets for proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy. For the ten athletes that completed the intervention, significant increases in nutrition knowledge were observed in protein, fat, hydration, and weight management categories; however, there were no considerable changes in dietary intake. A limitation was that only 40 percent of participants finished the intervention. Future research should consider methods of improving participant engagement by increasing the program’s accessibility to student athletes with busy schedules.