Sport nutrition knowledge may impact the quality of an athlete’s dietary intake. It is currently unknown how sport nutrition knowledge (SNK) influences body composition and what factors may contribute to an athlete’s body weight goal.
PURPOSE: To examine relationships between SNK and body composition and identify predictors of body weight goal in female collegiate soccer players.
METHODS: Twenty-six Division III female soccer athletes (height: 1.61 ± 0.30 m; body mass: 66.7 ± 7.5 kg; fat-free mass: 50.3 ± 6.5 kg; body fat %: 25.6 ± 5.1%) participated in the current study. All players had body composition assessed using air displacement plethysmography and completed a validated questionnaire designed to assess sport nutrition knowledge. Athletes were also asked questions about perceived dietary requirements and body weight goal. Pearson correlation coefficients were assessed to examine relationships between SNK and body fat percentage (BF %), fat-free mass, fat-mass, body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), and perceived dietary requirements. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors of body weight goal. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare differences between calculated and perceived dietary needs.
RESULTS: The mean number of questions answered correctly on the SNK questionnaire was 44.5 ± 11.2 %. An inverse relationship was observed between BF % and SNK (r = -0.391; p=0.044). Body mass, BMI and BF % were all significant predictors of body weight goal (p<0.05). For every 1% increase in BF % and 1 kg increase in BM, athletes were 1.3 times more likely to want to lose weight. For every 1 unit increase in BMI, athletes were 2.7 times more likely to want to lose weight. All players significantly underestimated daily energy (-578 ± 104.9 kcal/d, p<0.001) and carbohydrate (-283.7 ± 141.8 g/d, p<0.001) requirements when compared to their calculated required daily intakes.
CONCLUSIONS: Division III female collegiate soccer players have a low sport nutrition knowledge base which was associated with a higher BF %. Players who had a higher BM, BF % and BMI were more likely to have weight loss as a body weight goal. Players also significantly underestimated their energy and carbohydrate requirements based on the demands of their sport. Players could likely benefit from a sport nutrition education intervention.