DIETARY ATTITUDE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN ATHLETES
BY
DOMINIC, O.L (MRS) & ONIFADE, O.A.
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
ABSTRACT
Dietary attitudes of athletes have been found to significantly affect their
performance and well being, during training and competitions. This study therefore
sought to evaluate the dietal attitude of University of Ilorin athletes. The Crosssectional research design was used with one hundred and forty eight athletes
selected from nine individual and team sports and games. These athletes were
preparing for pre-NUGA competition (2004). A validated structured questionnaire
(r = 0.82) were used for the study, and simple percentage was used for data
analysis. It was revealed that the University of Ilorin athletes have high level of
nutritional knowledge and positive dietary attitude. However their dietal attitudes
were significantly influenced by their wives/mothers, friends, appetite and
financial status, but not by their religions/cultural beliefs and their coaches. Its
implication is that coaches are expected to exercise a more predominant influence
on athletes’ dietal attitude than any other factors to ensure that successful
performance is not handicapped. Athletes should also be more enlightened through
seminars, discussion forums and handbills so as to become conscious of their diets
and know that the diet that is optimal for one athlete or person may not be the best
for another.
1
INTRODUCTION
Good nutrition has been consistently proved to have a substantial impact on
health and well being. So also, poor nutritional habits can certainly have a negative
effect on an athlete’s ability to perform at the highest level expected. Arheim and
Prentice (2000) said, yet for all attention that athletes, coaches and athletic trainers
direct at practicing sound nutritional habits, good nutritional decisions are still
subjected to tremendous amount of misunderstanding, misinformation, and
occasionally, quackery. Therefore, there is a need for athletes to posses some
understanding of the basic principle of good nutrition. Adegun (2003) stated that
the nutritional habits of people are germane to their good and healthful living and
Hahn and Payne (1999) added that athletes who practice sound nutritional habits
reduce likelihood of injury by maintaining a high standard of healthful living.
In sports performance, William and Delvin (1992) depicted that it is a wellknown fact that eating a well balanced diet can positively contribute to the
development of strength, flexibility and cardio respiratory endurance. But
unfortunately, according to Short (1994) misconceptions, fads and superstition
regarding nutrition affect dietary habits particularly among the athletic population.
To this Venkarteswarlu (1982) added that athletes whose knowledge of nutrition
are poor often resorted to selecting foods on traditions, customs, and advertisement
leading often to malnourishment and consequently deterioration in sports
performance. Therefore athletes need to practice good nutrition
Nutrition is the science that studies nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins,
fats and oils, vitamins, minerals and water, determine what they are; in what
quantity they are found in different food and how they are used by the body and in
the quality and quantity in which they are needed. Venkarteswarlu (1982) and
Ajibola (1988) coined it as the science of food as it relates to optimal health and
2
performance, thus providing, adequately for body’s growth, maintenance, repair
and reproduction. Therefore the diet of athlete is a determinant factor in having the
required nutrients to meet the demands of their sports.
Fahey, Insel, and Roth (2001) defined diet as daily food choices and that
every one has
a diet and that lifestyle factors of diet and eating habits are
determinant of athletes’ performance. This will also have significant effect on
athletes’ body make up since the basic tool for the performance of any movement
task is the human body. They explained further that the key dietary concerns for
athletes are meeting their increased energy requirements and drinking enough
fluids during practice ad throughout the day remain fully hydrated. Furthermore,
for athletes, the American Dietetic Association recommends a diet with 60-65% of
calories coming from carbohydrate, 10-15% from protein and no more than 30%
from fat. This is an indication that the dietary attitude of athletes must conform to
their needs for specific sport requirements. Therefore dietary attitudes of athletes
either positively or negatively have significant effect on their performance during
training and competitive outings.
This study therefore, seeks to evaluate the dietary attitude of University of
Ilorin Athletes.
The following research questions are raised for the study
1.
Do University of Ilorin Athletes posses nutritional knowledge?
2.
What is the dietal attitude of University of Ilorin Athletes?
3.
What factors influence the dietal attitude of University of Ilorin
Athletes?
3
METHODOLGY
This study is a cross-sectional study, which cut across nine (9) different
sports and games. One hundred and forty two male and female athletes who were
preparing for pre- NUGA competition constituted the sample. The sample was
drawn from four (4) team games, three (3) dual games, and one (1) individual sport
and track and field events. Their age range fell between 21 and 33 years.
The instrument used for the study was a self developed structured
questionnaire, which has a reliability of 0.83. Section A included items on
demographic data; Section B on Nutritional knowledge; Section C on dietal
Attitude and section D on factors influencing the dietal attitude of the University of
Ilorin Athletes.
The analysis of the data was done using percentage.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Demographic data:
Out of 142 respondents, 46 (%) were between ages 21- 26years, 78 between
26-30 years and the remaining 18 (%) between ages 31 and above. On marital
status only 17 were married while 125 were single 87 (%) were Christians and 35
respondents were Muslims.
Research Question 1
Do University of Ilorin Athletes posses nutritional knowledge?
4
Table 1
NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN ATHLETES
ITEM
A
%
U
%
D
%
Total
142
100
-
-
-
-
142
125
88
-
17
12
12
142
3. Carbohydrate is the source of glucose, 121
which is the source of energy.
85
-
-
21
15
142
4. Food supplements containing vitamins, 102
minerals and protein will build muscle,
hence improve sports performance.
72
-
-
40`
28
1. Balance diet is essential for everyone.
2. Eating a well balanced diet can
positively contribute to the development
of strength and endurance.
142
5. Adequate water and fluids should taken
be during training and competition.
125
88
-
-
17
12
142
6. Carbohydrate contents in diet should be
more than protein, fats and oil in the 102
72
-
-
40
28
142
7. Special diets and supplements are
essential to successful performance.
93
65.5
-
-
340
345
142
8. Sports events of less than 20 minutes do
not require increase in carbohydrate
intake.
125
88
-
-
13
9
142
9. Sports events of more than 30 minutes
require increase in carbohydrate intake. 129
91
-
-
05
4
142
96
-
-
219
15.42 1420
1220 84.56 -
-
219
15.42 1420
diet.
10. Sound
Nutritional
habits
reduce
likelihood of injury.
138
Total
In table 1 above, it was shown that 84.56% of the respondents have nutritional
knowledge but only 15.42% showed lack of nutritional knowledge. This indicates
that majority of University of Ilorin athletes have nutritional knowledge.
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Research Question 2
What is the dietal Attitude of University of Ilorin Athletes?
TABLE II
DIETAL ATTITUDE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN ATHLETES
ITEM
A
1 I eat balanced diet everyday.
2 I
take
special
diet
before
131
and
%
U
%
D
%
Total
92.35 2
1.41 09
142
27.6
2
1.14 101
142
24
5
3.52 103
142
86.6
-
-
19
142
64.1
1
7
50
142
88.0
-
-
17
142
28.2
3
2.1
99
142
89.4
-
-
15
142
63
44.4
-
-
79
142
773
60.49 13
during 39
competition.
3 I always take my breakfast every morning.
34
4 I take a lot of water and fluid during training 123
and competition.
5 I take diet supplements like multi-vitamin for 91
successful performance.
6 I always eat at least one hour before training 125
and competition.
7 I prefer snacks to special prepared diet before 50
training and competition.
8 I eat at least 3 times daily to maintain body 127
weight.
9 I take milk and dairy products everyday.
Total
1.01 492
38.5 1278
In table 2, 60.49% of the respondents revealed positive dietary attitude while
38.50% showed a negative dietal attitude of which 1.01% of the respondents
belong no where.
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Research Question 3
What factors influence the dietal attitude of University of Ilorin Athletes?
TABLE II
FACTORS INFLUENCING DIETAL ATTITUDE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
ATHLETES
ITEM
A
%
128
90.1
-
-
35.2
2
101
71.2
4 My financial status determines my choice of 128
1 My wife/mother determines what I eat.
2 My religious/cultural beliefs influence my 50
U
%
D
14
%
Total
9.9
142
1.4 90
63.4
142
13
9.1 28
19.7
142
90.1
-
-
14
9.9
142
19.7
-
-
114
80.3
142
120
09
6.3 13
9.2
142
65.1
24
2.8 273
32.04 852
choice of diet.
3 Friends have influence on my dietal attitude.
food.
5 Coach determines my choice of feeding
28
6 My appetite determines what I eat before 120
training and competition.
555
Total
In table 3 above, 65.14% agreed that their dietary attitude were influenced
by certain factors around them, while 32.04% disagreed. 90% of the respondents
were influenced by their mothers/wives while only 35% were influenced by
religious/cultural beliefs. 71.23% and 84.5% indicated that their financial status
and appetite determine their choice of food and dietal attitude. On the influence of
coaches only 19.7% agreed to this, while 80.3% disagree. Therefore apart from
coaches and religious cultural beliefs, University of Ilorin Athletes’ diets are
influenced by wife/mother, friends, financial status and appetite.
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DISCUSSION
It is revealed through this study that majority (84.56%) of the University of
Ilorin athletes posses nutritional knowledge. This is in agreement with the study of
Moronkola and Ikokoh (2002) of University of Ibadan Athletes and contradicted
Agbonjimi and Onifade (1988) study, that respondents did not have significant
nutritional knowledge. It was further revealed in this study that athletes are well
aware of the significance of food nutrients to performance.
Majority indicated they eat balanced diet everyday but do not take special
diet before and during competition. Robergs and Roberts (1997) commented that
individuals who exercise regularly for an extended period not only need a sound
diet but also places additional nutritional demands on the body and that minor
nutritional modifications can enhance exercise performance. Therefore emphasis
should be placed on having adequate intake of carbohydrate before exercise to
ensure optimal reserve of muscle and liver glycogen. It is also well documented
that special diet of carbohydrate loading to increase muscle glycogen is beneficial
to improve performance (Robergs & Roberts 1997, Fahey, Insel & Roth 2001).
Hahn and Payne (1999) contributed that though increased physical activity
increases a person’s need for energy, but not necessarily protein, vitamins and
mineral supplements as athletes believe. Robergs’ and Roberts (1997) with Fahey,
Insel and Roth (2001) supported that there is no scientific basic for ingesting above
daily requirements that the 64.1% of the University of Ilorin Athletes agree with.
They emphasized that apart from increased carbo-diet, water is the only nutrient
that is of greater importance to the athletes especially when engaging in prolonged
exercise in a hot humid environment. Therefore, there is a need of creating
awareness to the athletes that excessive vitamin supplements cannot lead to
superior health and performance. Dairy products, red meat or enriched bread and
cereals in the athletes’ diet will also supply enough calcium and iron especially for
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females. Fahey, Insel and Roth (2001) therefore recommended that a balanced
high carbohydrate, moderate protein, low-fat diet can provide all nutrients athletes
need.
Majority (72.54%) of the athletes skip their breakfast of which Ekeh (1986)
said it is dangerous for athletes to skip meals, as omission of breakfast is known to
lead to poor work performance and rapid drop of blood sugar level. Hahn and
Payne (1999) added that a decline in blood sugar level is detrimental to
performance and endurance. Crockett and Sims (1995) corroborated that breakfast
positively influence students nutritional status, health, growth, learning ability and
physical performance. Coaches and team handlers must therefore take caution and
know the essence of developing positive nutritional attitudes among college
students’ athletes.
Fast foods are not encouraged for athletes because of high fat content. Hahn
and Payne (1999) Robergs and Roberts (1997) and Fahey, Insel and Roth (2001)
confirmed that, the deleterious effects far outweigh its beneficial effects especially
for endurance athletes who practice fat-loading. This leads to cardiac protein and
potassium depletion, causing arrhythmia and increasing level of cholesterol as a
result as a result of butter, cheese and cream.
Wife/mother, friends, appetite and financial status influenced majority of the
athletes, Hahn and Payne (1999) explained that the psychological
aspect of
allowing the athletes to eat whatever she /he is most comfortable with might
greatly affect performance. The athletes being traditionally inclined to these
influences on their dietary habits may see them as beneficial which may in fact be
detrimental physiologically to athletic performance. Therefore the coaches who
have been shown in this study to have less influence on the athletes’ diet must arise
to this task. The coaches must posses strong knowledge based on sound nutrition
so that they may serve as an information resource of the athletes.
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CONCLUSION
Dietary attitude of athletes will either positively or negatively affect their
athletic performance. This attitude is primarily based on the athletes’ nutritional
knowledge and the major factors of influences around them. The influences around
athletes can subject good nutritional decisions to tremendous amount of
misunderstanding, misinformation and negative practice. The key dietary concerns
of athletes should be drinking enough fluids during practices and competitions to
remain fully hydrated. Coaches should have major influence on athletes by telling
the athletes about the effect of nutrition on performance rather than leaving the
athletes to their own dietary devices. This may make a difference between having
enough strength and stamina and tiring halfway through a game.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the outcome of this study, efforts should be made by Unilorin
coaches to exert influence on the athlete’s dietal attitude. Unilorin athletes should
be educated so as to improve their nutritional knowledge through coaches’ pep
talks, organized seminars and discussion forums as also suggested by Otinwa
(1994), Moronkola and Ikokoh (2002). Athletes should also be encouraged to
become conscious of their diets and know that the diet that is optimal for one
athlete may not be the best for another.
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of University athletes, pp 212- 225 Organization of Sports in Nigerian Universities
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