Knowledge, attitude, and practices of sports nutrition amongst elite track and field athletes in India: A pilot survey

This study contributes to the understanding of sport nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practices amongst elite Indian track and field athletes. Findings of this study will support the initiatives to enhance sports nutrition knowledge for athletes and help them optimize their performance and overall well-being. This study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of sports nutrition for 56 elite track and field athletes in India, by understanding the influence of primary sources of information about nutrition. The data was collected from athletes across different regions of India using the KAP questionnaire. The questionnaire collected information like demographics, sports profiles, knowledge of nutrition, attitudes, and dietary practices. The mean scores for each domain were calculated. The mean scores identified moderate levels of knowledge (52.32), favorable attitudes (36.82), and a moderate adherence to recommended practices (53.85), indicating that there is a need for foundational awareness about sports nutrition amongst elite track and field athletes. 82% of athletes depend on peers for nutritional guidance, with only 2% consulting nutritionists, highlighting a significant need for professional input with nutritional practices. A correlation analysis was done indicating a weak negative correlation (r = -0.111) between knowledge and source, a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.358) for attitudes, and a weak positive correlation (r = 0.124) for practices, suggesting that credible sources significantly influence attitudes but have limited impact on knowledge and practices. These findings highlight the need for targeted nutrition education programs for athletes to bridge the gap between knowledge and dietary practices. A small size was the limitation of the study along with reliance on self-reported data. A larger sample size, objective measure, and more specific regional survey is recommended for future research.