NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION TO ENSURE THE ATHLETE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING

Abstract

The modern food system exposes adolescents and young adults to complex consumption patterns, often characterised by the prevalence of ultra-processed foods, the pressure of digital marketing, and the circulation of nutritional information that is not always scientifically sound. In this context, student-athletes represent a particularly vulnerable group, as their dietary choices are influenced both by the demands of sporting performance and by psychological, social, and cultural factors. Nutrition education, understood as a process of developing food literacy, can therefore contribute not only to improving nutritional knowledge but also to promoting physical and mental well-being.

This mixed-methods experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention targeting student-athletes aged between 16 and 20. The sample consisted of 60 participants, randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The experimental group took part in an eight-week nutrition education programme, based on theoretical, practical and reflective activities; the control group continued with their normal school and sporting activities. Quantitative data were collected using the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ), administered before and after the intervention. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 students in the experimental group.

The quantitative results showed a significant increase in nutritional knowledge within the experimental group, which rose from an average score of 48.6 ± 7.9 in the pre-test to 76.4 ± 6.8 in the post-test (p < 0.001). The control group showed minimal and non-significant changes. The qualitative interviews confirmed these results, revealing greater dietary awareness, a better understanding of the relationship between diet, energy, concentration and recovery, and a more critical attitude towards supplements, social media and food marketing.