Examination of Canoeing Athletes' Nutritional Knowledge Levels and Attitudes Towards Nutrition

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional knowledge levels, attitudes towards nutrition and habits of canoe athletes. Materials and methods: The research group consisted of a total of 218 active athletes, 73 females and 145 males, who practiced canoeing sports affiliated to the Turkish Canoe Federation in 2022-2023. In this study, a questionnaire method including personal information, nutritional knowledge level and dietary habits was used. Frequency and percentage information of categorical variables, mean and standard deviation values of continuous variables were given. All analyses used in the study were conducted in IBM-SPSS-21 program. The results obtained are presented in tables in the findings section.

Findings: According to the data obtained from the subjects in the study; a statistically significant relationship was found between the groups related to the number of meals per day of the athletes (p=0,00<α=0.05). According to the results of the analysis; a statistically significant relationship was found between the groups and the eating/drinking habits of the athletes after dinner (p=0,02<α=0.05). It was determined that 66.50% of the participants had the habit of eating/drinking after dinner.

In the study, a statistically significant relationship was found between the groups and skipping meals during the day (p=0.03<α=0.05). 40 (54,80%) female athletes and 57 (39,32%) male athletes skip meals during the day. According to the chi-square analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found between the type of food consumed by the athletes before and after the training-competition and the groups (p=0,00<α=0.05).  According to the results of the analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found between the groups in terms of the athletes' perception of adequate nutrition (p=0,01<α=0.05). 25 (34,24%) female athletes and 70 (48,27%) male athletes think that they are adequately nourished. Result: Conclusion: In the statistical analysis, when the attitudes of the athletes towards nutrition were analyzed, significance was found in the number of meals consumed, eating and drinking habits after dinner, skipping meals, foods consumed before and after the competition, and adequate nutrition in the education level variable. There was no statistical significance in the answers given to other questions, but mathematical differences and similarities were observed.