The relationship between nutrition knowledge and low energy availability risk in collegiate athletes

Abstract

Objectives: This was a pilot study that examined the relationship between nutrition knowledge and risk for low energy availability (LEA) in NCAA athletes.

Methods: Athletes (64.4 % female, 35.6 % male) completed the Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ) and either the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) or Male Athlete Triad (MAT) screening questions.

Results: Females at risk for LEA had higher nutrition knowledge, demonstrated by higher A-NSKQ scores, than those classified as low risk (16.5 vs 14.5, p = 0.01). There was a very weak correlation between MAT and A-NSKQ scores (R² = 0.012).

Keywords: Athletes; Health education; Relative energy deficiency in sport; Sports; Surveys and questionnaires.