NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE AND DIETARY PATTERN AMONG ATHLETES AND

NON-ATHLETE AT AWKUM (ABDUL WALI KHAN UNIVERSITY) MARDAN

Authors:

First author: Aroosa Nawaz (BSPED) Department of physical education and Sports

Corresponding authors :2nd author : Prof. Dr. Farooq Hussain (Chairman Department of
Physical education and sports.

: 3rd author : Mr. Zamman Yousaf

ABSTRACT
The current cross sectional study was carried out in the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan to
determine the nutrition knowledge and dietary habits of athletes and non-athletes students. A
well-developed questionnaire was design to collect the data regarding personal information,
nutrition knowledge as well as dietary habits of the participants. The nutrition knowledge
portion of the questionnaire comprises of 29 different questions regarding macro and micro
nutrient. The statistical analysis of the day shows that the mean age of male athletes was
22.6±2.13 years whereas that of the female athlete was 22.0±.1.8 years as compared to the non-
athlete the mean age of the males was 22.4±2.15 years while that of the female was 21.8±0.99
years respectively. Majority (64.0%) of the non-athletes and some of the athletes (28.0%) had
poor knowledge of carbohydrates. The results revealed that some (16.0%) of the non-athletes
and majority (44.0%) of the athletes were having good knowledge of protein.. Some of the non-
athletes (16.0%) and athletes (44.0%) had good knowledge of vitamins and minerals It was
observed that majority of the non-athletes (80.0%) and some of the athletes (36.0%) had poor
knowledge of fluid while in case of fiber some of the non-athletes (20.0%) and majority of the
athletes (68.0%) were having good knowledge of fiber majority of the non-athletes (48.0%) and
athletes (84.0%) had 1 to 3 times of meals in a day.. Some of the non-athletes (24%) and athlete
(20.0%) had preferred breakfast to be main meal of the week. It was also observed that non-
athletes (28.0%) and athletes (80.0%) was used to skip meals fortunately due to some reason.
Keywords: Athletes, non-athletes, nutrition knowledge, Dietary habit

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 I. INTRODUCTION
. Athletes frequently allude to people who are dynamic, including people who are keen on body
wellness and focused novice or expert (Contento, 2007). Non-athletes are people who don't
include in physical exercises and are bound to rehearse a stationary way of life, particularly
during weekdays (Purim et al., 2005). Level of nourishment information, dietary propensities and
nourishment admission of athletes are significant in deciding their exhibitions in sports rivalries
Importance of Nutrition
Youthful athletes have increasingly wholesome needs due to physical action and physical
improvement. Ideal athletic execution results from a blend of components including preparing,
body arrangement, and sustenance. (Daneshvar et al., 2013). Nutrition assumes a significant job
for accomplishing elevated level of accomplishment in sports and games. Physical wellness and
preparing are particularly relied upon wholesome status of sports work force. Diet altogether
impacts the exhibition of athletes. (Burke. 2001). There is solid proof that suitable choice of
supplements, timing of admission and legitimate enhancement decision are related with ideal
wellbeing and exercise execution (Rodriguez et al., 2009).
Nutrition Knowledge
Nonetheless nourishment related information deficiencies and dietary insufficiencies
continue among numerous school athletes (Jacobson, Sobonya, and Ransone, 2001; Rosenbloom,
Jonnalagadda, and Skinner, 2002; Malinauskas, Overton, Cucchiara, Carpenter, and Corbett,
2007; Zawila, Steib, and Hoogenboom, 2003). School athletes show an absence of learning about
the jobs of protein, nutrients, and minerals in the body and furthermore about supplementation
with these supplements (Jacobson, Sobonya, and Ransone, 2001; Rosenbloom, Jonnalagadda,
and Skinner, 2002; Zawila, Steib, and Hoogenboom, 2003). For instance, Jacobson and
associates (2001) announced that male athletes are probably going to accept that protein gives
prompt vitality and that high-protein diets increment bulk. Zawila and associates (2003)
announced sustenance learning deficiencies among female cross country sprinters.
Nutrition information is one of only a handful couple of modifiable determinants of
dietary practices. Sports dietitians regularly focus their dietary intercessions on sustenance
instruction to improve consciousness of and consistence with master dietary rules (Barkinhead
and Slater. 2015) (Clark. 1999). In a 2011 efficient audit of the sustenance learning of
recreational and first class athletes, scores crosswise over different nourishment information
polls evaluating general and sports explicit nourishment were average, with mean scores of
roughly 45%–65% (Heaney et al., 2011). There gave off an impression of being a powerless,
positive connection between sustenance information and great quality dietary admission.
Studies demonstrate that nourishment information and mentalities affect dietary patterns
(RUKA et al., 2005; LAURIE et al., 2003). Ruka and associate (2005) portrayed, albeit 85.6% of
understudies know about the idea of healthfully adjusted nourishment, just a couple of number of
understudies (7%) apply this idea when choosing nourishment from a menu. In addition, just
51% of understudies demonstrated a longing to find out about solid weight control plans (RUKA
et al., 2005). Past examinations showed that sustenance is a significant supplement of any
physical work out regime (RUKA et al., 2005; YUECHING et al. 1999; FEREDERICK et al.,
1992). Wholesome requirements for top athletic execution incorporate adequate calorie
consumption, sufficient hydration to timing of dinners. Understudy athletes and their guides
regularly are misguided or have misinterpretation about sports sustenance (RUKA et al., 2005;
LAURIE et al., 2003; NANCY et al., 2005)

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 Dietary Habit
The real intake of nutrient by the athletes plays an important role in the proper sustenance
of athletes. (American Dietetic et al., 2009; Clark, 2013). Due to the lack of linkage between the
nutrient intake and its effect on athlete performance. It is upmost important to take it into
consideration separately. (Heaney et al., 2011). Nutrient intake in relation to the nutritional
knowledge of athletes is mostly observed to be worsen. (CPSDA, 2014; Shriver, Betts, &
Wollenberg, 2013). Moreover behavioral changes and dietary habits of an athletes can differ and
effect their nutrient intake. (Maibach, 2003). It has been observed that university athletes are
usually taught about adequate nutritional intake but still their intake is compared with American
standard. (Heaney et al., 2011; Spronk, Kullen, Burdon, & O'Connor, 2014). The usual intake of
athletes comprises of energy dense food, processed foods as well as variety of fast food choices
in order to overcome their nutrient and energy requirements.
A healthy and well-nourished athlete might be capable of intensively training as well as
successful competition, a well-nourished athlete is less disposed to chronic injury and long term
fatigueless. (Postogame Nutrition. 2004). The benefits of having a proper diet can be assessed
only if an athlete knows what and when to consume. Energy as well as nutrient dense small
frequent portion of meal can help the athlete in assessing their energy requirement whereas this
activity will help them in preventing overeating and safeguarding against fatigue condition.
(Ziegler et al., 2002) However proper nutrition knowledge and overcoming on unhealthy dietary
habits can be useful for both athletes and the teams as well.
I.1 Statement of Problem
 Nutrition Knowledge and dietary habit among athlete and non athlete of AWKUM
(Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan).
I.2 Research question
 Determining the nutrition knowledge and dietary habit of an athlete and non-athletes.
I.3 Objective of the Study
 Assess the nutritional knowledge of athlete and non-athlete.
 Determining the dietary habit of athlete and non-athletes.

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 II. METHODOLOGY
II.1 Study Design
A cross sectional study was carried out at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan to assess
the effect of nutrition knowledge and dietary habits among athletes and non-athletes of the
Campus.
II.2 Population
A total of fifty athletes and non-athlete students of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
were enrolled in the study.
II.3 Sample size
A total of 50 athletic and non-athlete students will be enrolled in the entire study. The
enrolled subjects will consist of 25 athletes and 25 non-athletes.
II.4 Participant
All the participant were between the ages of 20-30 years. All the participant were actively
involved in indoor or outdoor sport game.
II.5 Questionnaire
A well-organized questionnaire was developed in order to collect from the participant.
The questionnaire consisted of three parts. a. Socio demographic data b. Nutritional knowledge
c. Dietary habit
a. Socio-demographic data
The Socio-demographic data consist of name, age and type of sports they are involved in.
b. Nutrition knowledge
The Nutrition knowledge portion of the questionnaire comprises of 29 different question
regarding, carbohydrate, protein, fats, micro nutrient, vitamin and mineral, fluid and fiber related
questions,
c. Dietary Habit
The dietary Habit of athletes and non-athletes was assessed through a pre-planned dietary
habit questionnaire. The questionnaire consist of different eating habits of individuals. The
participant were asked to fill the questionnaire according to their habits
d. Scoring Questionnaire
The basic nutrition Knowledge statements were scored following the system used by
Hornstrom et al. (2011). Statements answered correctly were given a score of 1, and statements
answered incorrect, including those with the answer “Don’t Know,” were scored as 0. The
overall score was referred to as the Nutrition Knowledge Score (NKS) (Hornstrom et al., 2011)
e. Ethical consideration and permission
A proper permission was taken from the head of the department of Physical Education,
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan in order to conduct the study and collect data
from athlete and non-athletes of the campus.

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 f. Statistical Analysis
On completion of the data collection, the data was then entered into SPSS version 21.
Independent test and descriptive statistics were applied to calculate the mean and frequencies of
both the athletes and non-athletes.

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 III. RESULTS
The current research study was conducted at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan to determine
the nutrition knowledge and dietary habits among athlete and non-athlete students. The study
concluded with the following results.
Table 1: Measurement of age on the basis of gender
Variables gender Frequenc Mean Std. Deviation
y
Male 13 22.6923 2.13638
Athlete
Female 12 22.0833 1.88092
Non- Male 17 22.4118 2.15229
athletes Female 8 21.875 0.99103

The above table shows the mean ± standard deviation of age for both athletes and non-
athletes. The mean age of male athletes was 22.6±2.13 years whereas that of the female athlete
was 22.0±.1.8 years as compared to the non-athlete the mean age of the males was 22.4±2.15
years while that of the female was 21.8±0.99 years respectively
Table 3: Carbohydrate knowledge of athletes and non-athletes
Frequency Mean Standard
Variables
deviation
Non-
Knowledge of 25 1.36 1.46856
athletes
Carbohydrates
Athletes 25 2.68 1.74929

The above tables describe the carbohydrate knowledge among athletes and non-athletes.
The mean± standard deviation score of carbohydrate knowledge for the non-athlete was
1.36±1.46, whereas that of the athlete was 2.68±1.74 respectively.

Table 4: Categories of carbohydrate knowledge among athletes and non-athletes

Non-athletes Athletes
Variables Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage
% %
Good 3 12.0 9 36.0
Knowledge of
Average 6 24.0 9 36.0
Carbohydrate
Poor 16 64.0 7 28.0

The above table shows the categories of carbohydrate knowledge among athlete and non-
athletes. The results concluded that majority (64.0%) of the non-athletes whereas some of the
athletes (28.0%) had poor knowledge of carbohydrates.
Table 5: Protein knowledge of athlete and non-athletes

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 Frequency Mean Standard
Variables
deviation
Non-
Knowledge of 25 1.6 1.70783
athletes
Protein
Athletes 25 3.16 2.01412

The above table shows the protein knowledge of athletes and non-athletes. The mean ±
standard deviation score for the protein knowledge among non-athletes was 1.6±1.70 while that
of the athlete was 3.16±2.0. Respectively
Table 6: Categories of protein knowledge among athlete and non-athlete
Non-athletes Athletes
Variables Frequency Percentage Frequenc Percentage
% y %
Good 4 16.0 11 44.0
Knowledge of
Average 6 24.0 8 32.0
Protein
Poor 15 60.0 6 24.0

The above table and figure evaluates the protein extent of protein related knowledge
among athletes and non-athletes. The results revealed that some (16.0%) of the non-athletes and
majority (44.0%) of the athletes were having good knowledge of protein.
Table 7: Knowledge of fats among athletes and non-athletes
Frequenc Mean Standard
Variable
y deviation
Non-athletes 25 1.48 1.50333
Fats knowledge
Athletes 25 2.52 1.47535

This tables briefly describe the mean score for the knowledge of fats among athletes and
non-athletes. The mean± standard deviation score for the knowledge of fats for non-athletes was
observed to be 1.48±1.50 whereas that of the athletes was 2.52±1.47 respectively.
Table 8: Categories of fat knowledge among athletes and non-athletes
Non athlete Athletes
Variable Frequenc
Frequency Percentage Percentage
y
Good 6 24 9 36
Knowledge
Average 14 56 10 40
of fats
Poor 5 20 6 24

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 The above table evaluates the extent of knowledge about fats among athletes and non-
athletes. It was observed that some of the non-athletes (20.0%) and athletes (24.0%) had poor
knowledge of fats whereas majority of the athletes and non-athletes had average knowledge of
fats.
Table 9: Knowledge of vitamins and minerals among athletes and non-athletes.
Frequenc Means Standard
Variables
y deviation
Vitamin and Non-
25 3.56 3.27974
minerals athletes
knowledge Athletes 25 5.92 3.45109

The above table evaluates the knowledge of vitamin and minerals among athletes and
non-athletes. The mean ± standard deviation score for the knowledge of vitamin and minerals
among non-athletes was 3.56±3.2 whereas in case of athletes the mean score was recorded as
5.92±3.45 respectively
Table 10: Categories of vitamin and minerals knowledge among Athletes and non-athletes
Non-athlete Athletes
Variable Frequency Percentage Frequenc Percentage
y
Vitamins Good 4 16 11 44
and Average 5 20 7 28
minerals Poor 16 64 7 28

The above tables shows the categories of knowledge of vitamins and minerals among
athletes and non-athletes. The current research work recorded that some of the non-athletes
(16.0%) and athletes (44.0%) had good knowledge of vitamins and minerals whereas majority of
the non-athletes (64.0%) and some of the athletes (28.0%) had poor knowledge of vitamins and
minerals.
Table 11: Fluid and fiber knowledge of athletes and non-athletes
Standard
Variables Frequency Mean
deviation
Non athlete 25 1.2 0.40825
Fluid
Athletes 25 1.64 0.4899
Non athlete 25 1.2 0.40825
Fiber
Athletes 25 1.68 0.4761

The above table revealed the fluid and fiber knowledge of athletes and non-athletes. The
mean± standard deviation score for the knowledge of fluid in non athletes was 1.2±0.4 while that
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of the athletes was 1.64±0.4 respectively. Moreover the mean score for the knowledge of fiber
was 1.2±0.4 and that of the athletes was 1.68±0.47.
Table 12: Categories for the knowledge of fluid and fiber among athletes and non-athletes
Non-athletes Athletes
Variable
Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage
Good 5 20 16 64
Fluid
Poor 20 80 9 36
Good 5 20 17 68
Fiber
Poor 20 80 8 32

This table illustrates the categories for the knowledge of fluid and fiber among
athletes and non-athletes. It was observed that majority of the non-athletes (80.0%) and some of
the athletes (36.0%) had poor knowledge of fluid while in case of fiber some of the non-athletes
(20.0%) and majority of the athletes (68.0%) were having good knowledge of fiber
Table 13: Dietary Habits of athletes and non-athletes.

Non-athlete Athlete
Variable
Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage
1 to 3 times 12 48 21 84
4 to 6 time 8 32 2 8
Meals in a day
More than 6
5 20 2 8
time
Breakfast 8 32 8 32
Meal of the Lunch 6 24 13 52
day Dinner 8 32 3 12
Other 3 12 1 4
Breakfast 6 24 5 20
Meal of the Lunch 6 24 1 4
week Dinner 9 36 17 68
Other 4 16 2 8
Skipping of No 18 72 5 20
meal due to
Yes 7 28 20 80
some reason

The above tables and figure illustrates the dietary habits of athletes and non-athlete. The
statistical analysis shows that majority of the non-athletes (48.0%) and athletes (84.0%) had 1 to
3 times of meals in a day. Most of the non-athletes (32.0%) and some of the athletes (12%)
preferred dinner to be meal of the day. Some of the non-athletes (24%) and athlete (20.0%) had
preferred breakfast to be main meal of the week. It was also observed that non-athletes (28.0%)
and athletes (80.0%) was used to skip meals fortunately due to some reason.

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CONCLUSION
The current cross sectional study concluded that the knowledge of carbohydrates and protein was
observed to be more in athletes as compared to the non-athletes however a slight decrease in the
knowledge of fats was recorded for both the groups. The study also showed that athletes was
having good knowledge of vitamins and minerals as compared to the non-athletes. Furthermore it
was observed that non-athletes could not skip eating or having meals while athlete could easily
skip meals for some reasons.

RECOMMENDATION
On the basis of the above conclusions the following recommendation as suggested to be
followed.
1. Each and every athletes or non-athletes should be well aware of the importance as well as
function of all the macro as well micro nutrient in the body.
2. Proper knowledge of carbohydrates should be given to each and every individuals as it
helps in the production of energy and fuels during workout
3. Intake of proteins as well as vitamins and minerals should be more for the proper
functioning of the body.
4. As far as dietary habits is concern, 1 to 3 times of meal in a days is highly recommended
5. Breakfast should be preferred as common meal of the day as compared to the lunch and
dinner
6. Furthermore nutrition knowledge related seminars and campaign should be initiated to
spread awareness among each and every individual.

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