Significant differences in dietary intake of NCAA Division III soccer players compared to recommended levels.

Objective: This study evaluated dietary intake patterns of NCAA Division III soccer players compared to recommended levels. Participants: NCAA Division III soccer players (n = 75). Methods: Actual dietary intake was determined by the analysis of a 3-day food record. Results: Results indicate that total energy, carbohydrate, and dietary fiber intake was significantly below the recommended levels. In addition, added sugar and total fat consumption were significantly above recommended levels. Potassium, magnesium, and vitamin D levels were consumed in levels significantly below the recommended levels. Sodium, iron, and vitamin C were consumed in significantly higher levels than the recommended target. Female athletes had significantly higher intakes of added sugar, saturated fat and vitamin C compared to male athletes. Female athletes had significantly lower intakes of calcium, potassium, sodium, iron, magnesium and vitamin D compared to male athletes. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, increased efforts should be put into development of nutrition education programs for NCAA Division III athletes.

Retrospective analysis of the Special Olympics Health Promotion database for nutrition-specific variables.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) exhibit a high prevalence of obesity and poor-quality diet. The population of individuals with ID include athletes that participate in Special Olympics. AIM: In order to develop appropriate educational programs for the Special Olympics Athletes in Connecticut, a baseline of the various health and nutrition variables needed to be established by examining the existing data in the Special Olympics International's Health Promotion database. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from the Special Olympics International (SOI) Health Promotion database. The study population included athletes at least 20 years of age (n = 47,932) and divided into sub-groups of non-USA, USA and Connecticut (CT). The data was provided by SOI to the research team in a de-identified form covering the time frame of 2014-2019. The existing data was originally collected by trained SO volunteers and included age, height, weight, bone mineral density (BMD), blood pressure (BP) variables and a health habits questionnaire. In addition to basic descriptive statistics, analysis was performed using Chi Squared Analysis and ANOVA with post-hoc. A significance level of p value ≤ 0.05 was used for all analyses. RESULTS: Results show a high prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure, low bone mineral density and a poor-quality diet across all groups. CT athletes were older and had a more even distribution by gender compared to the non-USA and USA groups. CT athletes had a high prevalence of obesity, HTN, and low BMD, as well as, a poor quality diet reflected by high frequency of consumption of sweetened beverages, fast food and snack food. CT athletes also did not consume the recommended daily servings of calcium containing foods or fruits and vegetables. CONCLUSION: This data will be used to develop educational programs that will help to improve the overall health of Special Olympics Athletes in Connecticut.

Implementation of an Educational Fueling Station for a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Athletic Program.

ABSTRACT: Gomez-Hixson, K, and Brown, ML. Implementation of an educational fueling station for a NCAA division III athletic program. J Strength Cond Res 35(8): 2346-2350, 2021-The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of an educational fueling station for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III student-athletes. Subjects included student-athletes participating in the fall 2018 athletic season (n = 82). Once the mobile fueling station was established, the athletes were informed of the mobile fueling station policies and educated on the appropriate use and timing of the fueling station. The fueling station remained in operation until the end of the 2018 fall athletic season, after which the effectiveness and athlete acceptance of the mobile fueling station was assessed. An anonymous online survey was used as the assessment tool and was created by the authors based on the information pertinent to our institution and mobile fueling station goals and objectives. An itemized inventory usage tracking system was used to calculate actual costs. Data analysis was limited to basic descriptive statistics including the overall response rate and the frequency and percentage of responses to the survey questions. Outcome assessment indicated that 97% of athletes found that the foods provided helped their performance; 95% felt they were properly oriented to the fueling station, and 51% used the fueling station 1-2 times per week on game days. Furthermore, inventory tracking revealed that the operational costs came in under the projected budget. Overall, the mobile fueling station was successfully implemented for student-athletes within a NCAA Division III university and demonstrated feasibility and sustainability within a low-budget athletic program. Establishing proof of concept led to the permanent adoption of the mobile fueling station.