ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the nutritional knowledge of coaches and those who supervise the training of athletes; investigates the nutritional knowledge of those involved in physical activity and athletic performance; discusses nutritional surveys; and considers dietary intake of athletes. A nutrition knowledge survey of 342 high school coaches from Alabama found that 69% could not recommend a correct diet for athletes, 32% recommended protein supplements, 20% recommended salt tablets, and 62% told athletes to take vitamin and mineral supplements. A study of nutrition knowledge and food practices of 115 college athletes compared to 55 nonathletes found that nonathletes and females had significantly higher nutrition knowledge scores and lower nutrient intakes than athletes and male subjects. Nutrition knowledge was not related to better dietary intakes. A weighed food intake report is costly, time consuming, and it can be difficult to achieve desired accuracy. This method may interfere with a subject’s typical eating patterns.
