Nutritional Knowledge among Adolescent Football Players: A Cross-sectional Study in Jorhat and Golaghat Districts of Assam

Description

Page: 43-48

Malobika Saikia¹, Mandeep Digra², Moloya Gogoi³, Premila L. Bordoloi⁴, Priyanka Nath⁵, Soumitra Goswami⁶, and Hemanta Saikia⁷, and Luna Dutta Baruah⁸ (Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam^1,2,3,4,5,8, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam⁶, and Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam⁷)

The present study aimed to assess the nutritional knowledge of adolescent male football players from the Jorhat and Golaghat districts of Assam aged between 12 to 16 years. The research focused on evaluating the level of awareness regarding nutrition among young athletes and identifying factors influencing their understanding. The findings revealed that the overall nutritional knowledge of the participants was moderate, with only a small percentage demonstrating a high level of awareness. Age was found to be a significant factor, as older players exhibited a better understanding of nutrition compared to their younger counterparts. However, gaps in sports nutrition knowledge among players across all age groups emphasized the need for targeted educational interventions. Policymakers and sports organizations should implement structured nutritional programs and fitness initiatives to support young athletes in their developmental years.