Figure 1 Projected Use of Registered Dietitian by Collegiate Athletes

Figure 2Comparison of Perceived and Actual Nutrition Knowledge in Collegiate Athletes

(a) Perceived Nutrition Knowledge value as indicated by participant on survey instrument (1 = Not knowledgeable at all, 10 = Very knowledgeable, and * = unanswered).
(b) Actual Nutrition Knowledge value is shown as the mean percentage of nutrition knowledge questions answered correctly on survey instrument.

Sport

Nutrition Knowledge Score

Basketball (M) (n = 14)

6.6 ± 2.0b

Basketball (W) (n = 15)

8.7 ± 1.8a

Football (M) (n = 84)

7.5 ± 2.1b

Baseball (M) (n = 25)

7.9 ± 1.9ab

Ice Hockey (M) (n = 25)

9.1 ± 1.6ab

Gymnastics (W) (n = 13)

9.9 ± 1.4a

Volleyball (W) (n = 11)

8.1 ± 2.1ab

Golf (M) (n = 8)

7.6 ± 2.1ab

Golf (W) (n = 7)

9.1 ± 1.9a

Soccer (M) (n = 17)

7.9 ± 1.6ab

Soccer (W) (n = 29)

8.7 ± 1.2a

Cross Country (M) (n =11)

9.2 ± 1.9a

CC/Track & Field (W) (n = 26)

9.2 ± 1.8a

Softball (W) (n = 11)

7.6 ± 2.0ab

Swimming (W) (n = 16)

8.4 ± 1.9ab

Tennis (W) (n = 7)

9.4 ± 1.4ab

Table 1: Average total nutrition knowledge score of student-athletes per sport(mean ± SD)*

*Maximum score = 14
**Means with different superscripts are significantly different at p < 0.05.
***M = men’s sport, W = women’s sport

Topic of Interest

Male (n = 184)

Female (n = 135)

Sports Drinks

3.9 ± 1.1

3.5 ± 1.2

Energy Drinks

2.8 ± 1.4

2.6 ± 1.5

Protein Supplements

3.7 ± 1.4

2.8 ± 1.4

Pre-Post Workout Meals

4.2 ± 0.9

4.3 ± 1.0

Energy Requirements

3.8 ± 1.0

4.0 ± 1.0

General Nutrition

3.7 ± 1.0

4.2 ± 0.9

Cheap, Healthy Meals

3.7 ± 1.1

4.3 ± 1.0

Healthier Fast Food Alternatives

3.7 ± 1.2

3.9 ± 1.3

Muscle Building

4.3 ± 0.9

3.6 ± 1.2

Safe, Healthy Weight Loss

3.1 ± 1.5

4.1 ± 1.3

Table 2: Nutrition topics of interest to student-athletes per gender (mean ± SD)*

*1 = low interest, 5 = high interest

Topic of Interest   Sports Drinks Energy Drinks Protein Suppl. Pre-Post Meal Energy Req. Gen. Nutr. Cheap/Healthy Meal Fast Food Alt. Muscle Build. Safe Wt. Loss
Golf (M)(n = 8) 3.6 ± 0.9 2.8 ± 0.7 3.4 ± 1.2 4.3 ± 0.7 3.6 ± 0.9 3.8 ± 1.0 3.9 ± 1.1 3.5 ± 1.3 4.0 ± 0.9 3.6 ± 1.4
Golf (W)(n = 7) 3.4 ± 1.0 2.4 ± 1.3 2.7 ± 1.7 4.7 ± 0.5 3.7 ± 1.0 4.7 ± 0.5 4.6 ± 0.8 4.3 ± 1.1 3.9 ± 0.7 4.6 ± 1.1
Soccer (M)(n = 17) 3.9 ± 1.1 3.2 ± 1.5 3.8 ± 1.3 4.2 ± 0.8 4.2 ± 0.9 4.2 ± 0.7 3.9 ± 1.3 3.5 ± 1.6 4.4 ± 0.9 3.7 ± 1.3
Soccer (W)(n = 29) 3.9 ± 1.0 2.9 ± 1.4 2.5 ± 1.5 3.9 ± 1.0 3.9 ± 0.8 4.1 ± 0.8 4.4 ± 0.9 4.0 ± 1.2 3.2 ± 1.2 4.2 ± 1.1
Cross Country (M)(n = 11) 4.1 ± 0.8 2.3 ± 1.6 3.1 ± 1.8 4.3 ± 0.9 4.2 ± 0.9 3.6 ± 1.2 4.1 ± 0.7 3.7 ± 1.4 4.4 ± 0.9 2.5 ± 1.6
CC/Track & Field (W)(n = 26) 4.0 ± 0.9 2.9 ± 1.6 3.1 ± 1.5 4.6 ± 0.7 4.2 ± 1.0 4.5 ± 0.8 4.5 ± 1.0 3.7 ± 1.3 3.9 ± 1.3 3.5 ± 1.7
Softball (W)(n = 11) 2.9 ± 1.3 2.1 ± 1.5 2.4 ± 1.4 3.7 ± 1.0 3.4 ± 1.3 3.6 ± 1.1 3.8 ± 1.3 3.1 ± 1.5 3.5 ± 1.7 4.4 ± 1.3
Swimming (W)(n = 16) 3.4 ± 1.9 2.6 ± 1.4 3.2 ± 1.1 4.6 ± 0.6 3.9 ± 1.2 4.1 ± 0.9 4.1 ± 1.1 3.1 ± 1.4 3.2 ± 1.3 3.6 ± 1.3
Tennis (W)(n = 7) 3.3 ± 1.4 2.6 ± 1.5 2.4 ± 1.0 4.7 ± 0.5 4.6 ± 0.5 4.7 ± 0.5 4.4 ± 0.5 5.0 ± 0.0 3.6 ± 1.1 4.3 ± 1.0
Basketball (M)(n = 14) 3.1 ± 1.0 3.2 ± 1.3 2.9 ± 1.2 3.4 ± 0.7 3.3 ± 0.7 3.3 ± 0.9 3.4 ± 1.1 3.7 ± 1.2 3.9 ± 1.0 2.9 ± 1.2
Basketball (W)(n = 15) 3.4 ± 1.1 2.4 ± 1.4 2.3 ± 1.4 4.2 ± 1.2 3.7 ± 0.9 3.6 ± 1.1 4.4 ± 0.6 4.1 ± 0.9 3.5 ± 1.4 4.4 ± 0.9
Football (M)(n = 84) 4.1 ± 1.1 2.9 ± 1.3 3.7 ± 1.4 4.3 ± 0.9 3.9 ± 1.0 3.8 ± 1.0 3.7 ± 1.2 3.8 ± 1.1 4.4 ± 0.9 3.2 ± 1.5
Baseball (M)(n = 25) 4.0 ± 1.1 3.0 ± 1.4 4.1 ± 1.1 4.4 ± 0.8 3.8 ± 1.0 3.7 ± 0.9 3.6 ± 1.1 3.7 ± 1.2 4.5 ± 0.8 3.2 ± 1.5
Ice Hockey (M)(n = 25) 3.4 ± 1.2 2.1 ± 1.2 3.5 ± 1.2 4.1 ± 0.8 3.3 ± 1.1 3.4 ± 0.9 3.5 ± 1.0 3.3 ± 1.1 4.1 ± 0.7 2.5 ± 1.3
Gymnastics (W)(n = 13) 2.9 ± 1.5 2.5 ± 1.7 2.6 ± 1.6 4.2 ± 1.0 4.2 ± 0.9 4.4 ± 0.8 4.2 ± 0.9 3.9 ± 1.2 3.9 ± 1.0 4.7 ± 0.5
Volleyball (W)(n = 11) 3.0 ± 1.3 2.0 ± 1.4 3.4 ± 1.0 4.4 ± 1.3 3.9 ± 1.5 4.3 ± 0.9 4.0 ± 1.2 4.3 ± 0.8 4.2 ± 0.9 4.1 ± 1.3

Table 3: Nutrition topics of interest to student-athletes per sport (mean ± SD)*

*1 = lowest interest, 5 = highest interest
**M = men’s sport, W = women’s sport

Education Preferences

Male (n = 184)

Female (n = 135)

Group Sessions

2.9 ± 1.3

3.2 ± 1.3

Individual Counseling

3.1 ± 1.4

3.2 ± 1.4

Newsletters

2.5 ± 1.3

3.1 ± 1.3

Independent Study Modules

2.5 ± 1.2

2.4 ± 1.2

Computer Training

2.5 ± 1.3

2.4 ± 1.2

Conferences

2.5 ± 1.1

2.5 ± 1.2

Academic Courses

2.8 ± 1.2

3.1 ± 1.3

Nutrition Graduate Student

2.9 ± 1.2

3.1 ± 1.2

Table 4:Nutrition education preferences of student-athletes per gender (mean ± SD)*

*1 = low interest, 5 = high interest

Education Preference   Group Sessions Ind. Counseling Newsletters Study Modules Comp. Training Conferences Academic Courses Nutr. Grad. Student
Basketball (M)(n = 14) 2.9 ± 1.1 3.2 ± 1.4 3.2 ± 1.1 3.1 ± 1.2 2.8 ± 1.4 2.8 ± 1.3 3.2 ± 1.3 3.4 ± 1.2
Basketball (W)(n = 15) 3.2 ± 1.2 3.1 ± 1.3 2.5 ± 1.1 2.0 ± 1.0 2.1 ± 1.1 2.3 ± 1.2 2.6 ± 1.2 3.3 ± 1.0
Football (M)(n = 84) 2.8 ± 1.4 3.4 ± 1.4 2.3 ± 1.2 2.4 ± 1.2 2.5 ± 1.3 2.5 ± 1.1 2.7 ± 1.3 2.7 ± 1.3
Baseball (M)(n = 25) 3.0 ± 1.4 3.0 ± 1.2 3.0 ± 1.3 2.9 ± 1.1 3.1 ± 1.2 3.0 ± 1.1 3.4 ± 1.0 3.4 ± 1.1
Ice Hockey (M)(n = 25) 2.6 ± 1.1 2.5 ± 1.1 1.9 ± 1.1 1.9 ± 0.9 2.0 ± 1.1 2.0 ± 0.9 2.7 ± 0.9 2.3 ± 1.1
Gymnastics (W)(n = 13) 3.0 ± 1.6 3.0 ± 1.5 3.3 ± 1.2 2.7 ± 1.1 2.5 ± 1.3 2.6 ± 0.8 2.9 ± 1.4 3.6 ± 1.2
Volleyball (W)(n = 11) 3.6 ± 1.2 3.5 ± 1.7 3.3 ± 1.4 2.7 ± 1.3 2.2 ± 1.0 2.6 ± 1.5 3.1 ± 1.7 3.7 ± 1.4
Golf (M)(n = 8) 2.6 ± 1.4 2.6 ± 1.6 2.6 ± 1.4 2.3 ± 1.3 2.3 ± 1.0 2.4 ± 1.2 2.4 ± 1.3 3.4 ± 0.7
Golf (W)(n = 7) 3.3 ± 1.4 3.7 ± 1.1 3.0 ± 1.2 2.0 ± 0.8 2.3 ± 0.8 2.4 ± 1.0 3.3 ± 1.0 3.6 ± 1.4
Soccer (M)(n = 17) 3.2 ± 1.4 3.3 ± 1.2 2.5 ± 1.2 2.3 ± 0.9 2.4 ± 1.2 2.6 ± 1.1 2.8 ± 1.1 2.6 ± 1.2
Soccer (W)(n = 29) 2.5 ± 1.4 2.7 ± 1.5 2.8 ± 1.2 2.0 ± 1.2 2.0 ± 1.2 2.0 ± 1.2 3.2 ± 1.4 2.6 ± 1.2
Cross Country (M)(n = 11) 3.1 ± 1.6 2.3 ± 1.6 2.6 ± 1.4 2.6 ± 1.4 2.8 ± 1.4 2.7 ± 1.5 2.7 ± 1.6 3.1 ± 1.4
CC/Track & Field (W)(n = 26) 3.5 ± 1.4 3.6 ± 1.5 3.3 ± 1.6 2.4 ± 1.5 2.6 ± 1.3 2.6 ± 1.3 3.5 ± 1.3 3.0 ± 1.4
Softball (W)(n = 11) 3.2 ± 1.3 2.3 ± 1.1 2.8 ± 1.7 2.2 ± 0.8 2.2 ± 1.1 2.6 ± 1.5 2.9 ± 1.5 2.6 ± 1.2
Swimming (W)(n = 16) 3.4 ± 1.2 3.7 ± 1.0 3.4 ± 0.9 3.0 ± 1.0 2.8 ± 1.1 2.8 ± 0.8 3.3 ± 1.1 3.2 ± 0.8
Tennis (W)(n = 7) 3.4 ± 1.0 2.9 ± 1.1 3.3 ± 1.1 3.0 ± 0.8 3.3 ± 1.1 3.0 ± 0.6 3.3 ± 1.4 3.3 ± 0.8

Table 5: Nutrition education preferences to student-athletes per sport (mean ± SD)*

*1 = lowest interest, 5 = highest interest
**M = men’s sport, W = women’s sport