Nutritional and dietary supplement use and dietary practices among professional, collegiate, and high school athletes
Date
2000-05
Authors
Kirchner, Korey
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to quantify the percentage of nutritional and dietary supplement use among the different competitive athletic levels, types of supplements used, and perceived reasons for nutritional and dietary supplement use among professional, collegiate, and high school athletes during off-season and in-season training. This study also evaluated possible associations between daily dietary practices and supplement use. The subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire survey consisting of different types of supplements, reason for supplement use, and dietary practices. Subjects were 91 male athletes from different competitive levels. There were 30 professional athletes (ages 22-32), 30 collegiate athletes (ages 18-22), and 31 high school athletes (ages 15-18). There were a total of 43 athletes that responded and said that they used supplements and 48 athletes that reported no use. A chi square test was used to determine the results of each null hypothesis. Results indicated that there was no difference in the percentage of supplement use among the different competitive athletic levels. There was a significant difference in the reason for supplement use. Professional and high school athletes wanted to increase muscle mass during the off-season and professional and college athletes wanted to feel stronger and lose body fat during the off-season. There was a significant difference in the types of supplements used among the different competitive athletic levels. Professional athletes used more types of supplements than college and high school athletes. There was also a significant difference in dietary practices among supplement users and non-users. Supplement users ate more meals than non-users during the week and limited protein and carbohydrates in their diet. These data may help coaches, athletic trainers, physical education teachers, health educators, and parents identify what type of athletes take supplements and if the type of supplement taken relates to the perceived reasons and dietary practices among their athletes.
Description
Keywords
nutrition, college athletes, high school athletes, dietary supplements, sports
Citation
Kirchner, K. S. (2000). Nutritional and dietary supplement use and dietary practices among professional, collegiate, and high school athletes (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.