Start Date
24-4-2025 12:00 AM
Description
PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between athlete preseason nutrition knowledge and changes in body composition over a competition season. METHODS: Twenty NCAA Division I women’s soccer athletes (20 ± 2 y, 167.8 ± 6.5 cm, 64.4 ± 7.2 kg) participated. Before fall training, athletes completed the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ) to assess nutrition knowledge. Body composition was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) pre-season and one week post-season. Spearman's rank correlations examined relationships between A-NSKQ scores and DEXAderived measures (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Total A-NSKQ score showed a significant positive correlation with change in % body fat (ρ = 0.514, p = 0.017) and general nutrition knowledge (ρ = 0.546, p = 0.011). Total A NSKQ score (ρ = -0.448, p = 0.042) and sports nutrition knowledge (ρ = 0.468, p = 0.032) were negatively correlated with change in fat-free mass, while general nutrition knowledge was not significantly associated (ρ = 0.351, p = 0.119). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals higher nutrition knowledge was associated with less favorable body composition changes. Possibly reflecting insufficient university resources or mismatches between perceived and actual dietary intake. Future research should explore the impact of resource access, dietary adherence, and knowledge application.
Recommended Citation
Mowbray, Emily M.; Cintineo, Harry P.; and Sunderland, Kyle, "Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge and Body Composition Changes Across a Season in Collegiate Women’s Soccer" (2025). 2025 Student Academic Showcase. 34.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/src_2025/Posters/Posters/34
Included in
Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge and Body Composition Changes Across a Season in Collegiate Women’s Soccer
PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between athlete preseason nutrition knowledge and changes in body composition over a competition season. METHODS: Twenty NCAA Division I women’s soccer athletes (20 ± 2 y, 167.8 ± 6.5 cm, 64.4 ± 7.2 kg) participated. Before fall training, athletes completed the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ) to assess nutrition knowledge. Body composition was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) pre-season and one week post-season. Spearman's rank correlations examined relationships between A-NSKQ scores and DEXAderived measures (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Total A-NSKQ score showed a significant positive correlation with change in % body fat (ρ = 0.514, p = 0.017) and general nutrition knowledge (ρ = 0.546, p = 0.011). Total A NSKQ score (ρ = -0.448, p = 0.042) and sports nutrition knowledge (ρ = 0.468, p = 0.032) were negatively correlated with change in fat-free mass, while general nutrition knowledge was not significantly associated (ρ = 0.351, p = 0.119). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals higher nutrition knowledge was associated with less favorable body composition changes. Possibly reflecting insufficient university resources or mismatches between perceived and actual dietary intake. Future research should explore the impact of resource access, dietary adherence, and knowledge application.