Channels • 2021 • Volume 5 • Number 2 Page 1 Channels Vol. 5 No. 2 (2021): 1–17 ISSN 2474-2651 © 2021, Ashley, Jacques, Smith, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) A Nutrition Survey of Division II Athletes in Ohio Zachary Ashley, David Jacques, Ellen Smith Kinesiology and Allied Health Introduction utrition intake is widely recognized as a key factor that impacts athletic performance and recovery (Joint position statement). The impact of macronutrient balance, fluid intake, timing of refueling, micronutrient levels and consumption of supplements have all been observed in various settings. Even though there has been an extensive amount of research conducted on the impact of nutrition on athletic performance, there is often a lack of nutritional knowledge among collegiate athletes (Abbey, et. al., Joint position statement). Athletic populations that lack nutrition knowledge often display poor eating behaviors, resulting in an inappropriate consumption of macronutrients (Jagim et. al). Even though these individuals display a lack of nutritional knowledge, many exhibit positive attitudes towards healthy nutrition behaviors (Dunn et. al). In an attempt to improve athletes’ nutrition, many institutions have implemented nutrition education sessions as a part of team training or preseason activities (Heaney et al.) There appears to be a lack of nutritional knowledge and healthy dietary practices even at the resource-rich professional or Division I level (Andrews et. al, Smith-Rockwell et. al, Jonnalagga et. al). Division II (DII) athletic populations, which often have fewer resources and team nutritional education opportunities, may be at an even higher risk of poor nutritional practices. To facilitate increased nutritional practices among Division II settings, we propose a baseline assessment of nutritional knowledge among these populations. The main outcome of this study is to determine whether current athletic communities in DII settings have an appropriate and comprehensive understanding of modern nutrition guidelines. Additionally, this study will provide baseline information to help shape the development and implementation of nutritional education programs to impact dietary practices among DII athletic populations. Research question: Using a nutrition survey, do the current athletic communities in D2 colleges in the State of Ohio have an appropriate/comprehensive understanding of modern nutrition that shapes how they eat and perform in athletics?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=