Correlation between Nutrition Education and Dietary Habits in College Athletes
A Study of Volleyball and Football Players at Federal College of Education, Zaria
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Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between nutrition education and dietary habits among college athletes, focusing on volleyball and football players at the Federal College of Education, Zaria. With a sample size of 52 Physical and Health Education (PHE) students, the research aims to understand how nutrition knowledge influences dietary choices across different sports. The study used a quasi-experimental design with tests given before and after the intervention. Three types of data were collected: a validated nutrition knowledge questionnaire based on Zinn et al. (2005), a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and a 3-day food diary. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25, with Pearson's correlation coefficient examining relationships between variables and independent t-tests comparing differences between sports. The findings suggest a significant positive correlation between nutrition education and improved dietary habits (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), with volleyball players showing a stronger correlation (r = 0.63, p < 0.001) compared to football players (r = 0.52, p < 0.01). Post-intervention, both groups demonstrated improved dietary habits, with volleyball players showing greater improvements in fruit and vegetable intake and reduced consumption of processed foods. The study concludes that nutrition education has a positive impact on the dietary habits of college athletes, with the effect varying between different sports. The stronger correlation observed in volleyball players suggests that sport-specific factors may influence the effectiveness of nutrition education. Based on these findings, the study recommends curriculum planners and experts implement a continuous nutrition education curriculum as part of athletic programs. This curriculum should not only provide foundational knowledge but also include ongoing education to reinforce and expand upon initial learning.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Hurera Mouktar Maccido, Aliyuddeen Bala (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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