Nutrition Knowledge of Collegiate Athletes in the United States and the Impact of Sports Dietitians on Related Outcomes: A Narrative Review |
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| Authors: | Aaron J Riviere Rae Leach Haleigh Mann Samuel Robinson Donna O Burnett Jeganathan R Babu Andrew Dandridge Frug |
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| Institution: | 1.Department of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;2.Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (R.L.); (H.M.); (D.O.B.); (J.R.B.); (A.D.F.);3.Advent Health, Tampa, FL 33613, USA; |
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| Abstract: | In the last decade, the number of full-time registered dietitians (RDs) serving intercollegiate athletes in the United States has more than quadrupled. However, many student athletes may be at increased risk of nutrition-related problems that impact physical and academic performance, which include inadequate macronutrients, inadequate micronutrients, and excessive macronutrients. This narrative review reports the current literature to date on nutrition-related knowledge in collegiate athletes and the impact of sports RDs on student athletes’ nutrition knowledge and behaviors. To date, only observational and quasi-experimental studies have been published with regard to changes in nutrition knowledge and behaviors in NCAA athletes. While these studies report benefits of the RD as a member of the interdisciplinary student athlete support team, more well-designed randomized control trials are warranted to determine benefits related to health outcomes and sport-specific performance outcomes. |
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| Keywords: | student athlete sports nutrition sports dietitian college athletics |
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