Dietary Habits, Nutritional Knowledge and Barriers to Optimal Nutrition among University Student Athletes in Delhi NCR Region, India

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

School of Healthcare and Allied Science, Sohna Rural, Haryana, India

10.30476/ijns.2026.106933.1470

Abstract

Background: Nutritional knowledge and dietary habits are critical elements for collegiate athletes; while they can affect athletic performance and their overall health too. This study examined nutritional knowledge, dietary behaviours, and barriers to nutrition of collegiate athletes.
Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis, 200 collegiate athletes were enrolled. A structured and validated questionnaire was used to gather data on demographics, nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and barriers to nutrition.
Results: It was shown that collegiate athletes had moderate nutritional knowledge with a significant positive correlation between nutritional knowledge and dietary habits (p=0.489, p<0.001). Conversely, barriers to nutrition could significantly impact dietary habits (p=0.020) highlighting that nutritional knowledge alone was not sufficient for adequate dietary
choices. Collegiate athletes had greater nutritional knowledge and followed healthier dietary habits. No significant differences in dietary habits as well as nutritional knowledge were observed between males and females. The commonly reported barriers to a proper nutrition were accessibility of healthy foods, lack of nutritional knowledge, time constraints, financial limitations, and taste preference emphasizing that knowledge alone was insufficient to ensure correct dietary practices.
Conclusion: The findings emphasized the importance of developing targeted strategies to enhance dietary habits by strategies like introduction of educational programs regarding sport’s nutrition. Additionally, implementing policies that can improve food accessibility, affordability and healthy food options in campus can be key dietary barriers.

Keywords

References

  1. Daryanoosh F, Sharifi GR, Jafari M, et al. the effect of running exercise and calcium supplementation on femoral bone strength in ovariectomized rats. Global Vet. 2013;11:694-700. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2013.11.6.81189.
  2. Melesse MB, van den Berg M. Consumer nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior in urban Ethiopia: a comprehensive study. Ecol Food Nutr. 2021;60:244-256. DOI: 10.1080/03670244.2020.1835655. PMID: 33155488.
  3. Cholewa JM, Landreth A, Beam S, et al. The effects of a sports nutrition education intervention on nutritional status, sport nutrition knowledge, body composition, and performance in NCAA Division I baseball players. J Sports Sci Med. 2017;16:60-68. PMID: 28344452.
  4. Barr SI. Nutrition knowledge of female varsity athletes and university students. J Am Diet Assoc. 1987;87:1660-1664. PMID: 3680825.
  5. Moatari-Kazeruni M, Daryanoosh F, Mehrabani D. The Effect of 8 Weeks Anaerobic Exercise and Omega 3 on Inflammatory Factors In Male Rat. J Sport Physiol. 2012;15:97-108.
  6. Henry L. Understanding food insecurity among college students: experience, motivation, and local solutions. Ann Anthropol Pract. 2017;41:6-19. DOI: 1111/napa.12108.
  7. Beals KA, Manore MM. Nutritional status of female athletes with subclinical eating disorders.
  1. Alizadeh H, Daryanoosh F, Mehrabani D. Evaluating Inflammatory Index Changes And Muscle Injuries In Male Mice After 8 Weeks Of Aerobic Exercise And Omega-3 Consumption. J Sport Biosci. 2012;10:77-94. DOI:10.22059/jsb.2012.21999.
  2. Anziano J, Zigmont VA. Understanding food insecurity among collegiate athletes: a qualitative study at a Public University in New England. J Athl Train. 2024;59:410-418. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0660.22. PMID: 37647240.
  3. Birkenhead KL, Slater G. A review of factors influencing athletes’ food choices.
  1. Daryanoosh F, Mehrabani D, Sotoudeh V, et al. The Effect Of Intensive Exercise And Consuming Estrogen Supplement On Deposition Of Calcium And Bone Strength During Sixteen Weeks In Ovariectomy Rats. Sport Biomotor Sci. 2009;3:64-71.
  2. Nazni P, Vimala S. Nutrition knowledge, attitude and practice of college sportsmen. Asian J Sports Med. 2010;1:93-100. DOI: 10.5812/asjsm.34866. PMID: 22375196.
  3. Trakman GL, Forsyth A, Devlin BL, et al. A systematic review of athletes’ and coaches’ nutrition knowledge and reflections on the quality of current nutrition knowledge measures. Nutrients. 2016;8:570. DOI: 10.3390/nu8090570. PMID: 27649242.
  4. Rossi FE, Landreth A, Beam S, et al. The effects of a sports nutrition education intervention on nutritional status, sport nutrition knowledge, body composition, and performance during off‑season training in NCAA Division I baseball players. J Sports Sci Med. 2017;16:60-68. PMID: 28344452.
  5. Dehghanpisheh S, Daryanoosh F, Mehrabani D, et al. The effect of eight weeks aerobic exercise on visfatin level in non-athletic young women, southern Iran. Middle East J Sci Res. 2014;21:314-319. DOI: 5829/idosi.mejsr.2014.21.02.8255.
  6. Heaney S, O’Connor H, Michael S, et al. Nutrition knowledge in athletes: a systematic review. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2011;21:248-261. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.21.3.248. PMID: 21719906.
  7. Spronk I, Heaney SE, Prvan T, et al. Relationship between general nutrition knowledge and dietary quality in elite athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015;25:243-251. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2014-0034. PMID: 25252338.
  8. Mahmoodi R, Daryanoosh F, Kasharafifard S, et al. Effect of exercise on serum adiponectin and lipoprotein levels in male rat. Pakistan J Biol Sci. 2014;17:297-300. DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2014.297.300. PMID: 24783818.
  9. Daryanoosh F, Jafari H, Rahimi E, et al. The effect of eight week interval acute training on plasma visfatin, tnf-α and il-6 in rats: a brief report. Tehran Univ Med J. 2013;71:603-8.
  10. Torres‑McGehee TM, Pritchett KL, Zippel D, et al. Sports nutrition knowledge among collegiate athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning specialists. J Athl Train. 2012;47:205-211. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-47.2.205. PMID: 22488287.
  11. Nakhostin-Roohi B, Asadi M. The Prevalence, Level of Knowledge and Methods of Providing Nutritional Supplements among Females Participating in Private Sports Clubs in the City of Ardabil, Iran. Int J Nutr Sci. 2018;3:18-24.
  12. Heikkilä M, Valve R, Lehtovirta M, Fogelholm M. Nutrition knowledge among young Finnish endurance athletes and their coaches. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2018;28:522-527. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0264. PMID: 29252046.
  13. Izadi MA, Daryanoosh F, Rabiee MR. The Effect of Probiotics on Sport Performance of Athletes: A Review on Best Probiotics. Int J Nutr Sci. 2025;10:406-415. DOI: 10.30476/ijns.2025.105594.1398.
  14. Feili A, Sabet A, Mokhtari M, et al. Ranking of Shiraz Top Fitness Clubs Regarding Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude, and Performance of Sport Trainers Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approach. Int J Nutr Sci. 2018;3:139-144.
  15. Eck KM, Byrd‑Bredbenner C. Food choice decisions of collegiate Division I athletes: a qualitative exploratory study. Nutrients. 2021;13:2322. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0264. PMID: 29252046.
  16. Rahmawati AY, Ismawanti Z. Snack Bar Formulation Based on Mocaf and Corn Flours as A Snack for Athletes. Int J Nutr Sci. 2023;8:193-195. DOI: 10.30476/IJNS.2023.98750.1235.
  17. Klein DJ, Eck KM, Walker AJ, et al. Assessment of sport nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, and sources of nutrition information in NCAA Division III collegiate athletes. Nutrients. 2021;13:2962. DOI: 10.3390/nu13092962. PMID: 34578840.
  18. Boidin A, Tam R, Mitchell L, et al. The effectiveness of nutrition education programmes on improving dietary intake in athletes: a systematic review. Br J Nutr. 2021;125:1359-1373. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114520003336. PMID: 32959736.
  19. Deshpande S, Basil MD, Basil DZ. Factors influencing healthy eating habits among college students: an application of the health belief model.
  1. Subapriya S. Effect of nutrition education on sports nutrition knowledge among women athletes. Indian J Nutr Diet. 2024;61:132-140.
  2. Ali A, Al‑Siyabi MS, Waly MI, Kilani HA. Assessment of nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and nutrient intake of university student athletes. Pak J Nutr. 2015;14:293.
  3. Andrews MC, Itsiopoulos C. Room for improvement in nutrition knowledge and dietary intake of male football (soccer) players in Australia.
  1. Brauman K, Achen RM, Barnes JL. Perceived dietary quality and habits of collegiate student‑athletes. J Exerc Nutr. 2020;3.
  2. Vázquez‑Espino K, Rodas‑Font G, Farran‑Codina A. Sport nutrition knowledge, attitudes, sources of information, and dietary habits of sport‑team athletes. Nutrients. 2022;14:1345. DOI: 10.3390/nu14071345. PMID: 35405958.
  3. Spendlove JK, Heaney SE, Gifford JA, et al. Evaluation of general nutrition knowledge in elite Australian athletes. Br J Nutr. 2012;107:1871-1880. DOI: 10.1017/S000711451200121X. PMID: 35405958.
  4. Folasire OF, Akomolafe AA, Sanusi RA. Does nutrition knowledge and practice of athletes translate to enhanced athletic performance? A cross‑sectional study amongst Nigerian undergraduate athletes. Glob J Health Sci. 2015;7:215-25. DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v7n5p215. PMID: 26156896.
  5. Younes S. Gender difference in nutritional knowledge, dietary pattern, and nutritional status of undergraduates in Tartous University, Syria. J Biomed Res. 2024;5:8-16. DOI:10.46439/biomedres.5.038.
  6. Dada IO, Ajayi K, Adedeji F. Gender difference in nutritional knowledge, dietary pattern, and nutritional status of undergraduates in Ado‑Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria. World Nutr. 2024;15:33-40. DOI:10.26596/wn.202415333-40.
  7. Sharples AM, Galloway SD, Baker D, Smith B, Black K. Barriers, attitudes, and influences towards dietary intake amongst elite Rugby union players. Front Sports Act Living. 2021;3:789452. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2021.789452. PMID: 34988435.
  8. Brauman K, Achen R, Barnes JL. The five most significant barriers to healthy eating in collegiate student‑athletes. J Am Coll Health. 2023;71:578-583. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1899186. PMID: 33830870.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics