1 Department of Nutrition and Health, School of Healthcare and Allied Sciences, GD Goenka University, Haryana, India
2 Department of Pharmacy, School of Healthcare and Allied Sciences, GD Goenka University, Haryana, India
* Corresponding Author: Dineshdagar33@gmail.com
Background:
Nutrition knowledge plays a vital role in shaping dietary behavior in athletes. However, knowledge alone might not always result in healthy eating practices. Collegiate athletes often face barriers that influence their food selection and limit the application of nutrition knowledge.
Objectives:
This research sought to explore the connection between nutrition awareness and eating patterns, as well as the impact of perceived obstacles on dietary choices among college athletes in India.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 collegiate athletes from universities in the Delhi NCR region, India. Data were collected using structured and validated questionnaire assessing nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, and perceived barriers. Since the data did not follow a normal distribution, non-parametric tests were applied. Spearman's correlation was used to examine associations, and Multiple linear regression was conducted to identify predictors of dietary habits.
Results:
Athletes showed moderate levels of nutrition knowledge, with wide variation in dietary habits. A strong link was found between understanding nutrition and eating patterns (ρ = 0.489, p < 0.001). Perceived barriers had a notable adverse impact on dietary behavior (β = -0.675, p = 0.020). The regression model explained 26.4% of the variance in dietary habits (R² = 0.264). Common barriers included time constraints, limited access to healthy foods, and financial limitations.
Conclusion:
Nutrition knowledge alone is not sufficient to ensure healthy dietary behavior. Barriers limit its practical application. Interventions should combine education with strategies that address real-life challenges faced by athletes.
Keywords: Nutritional awareness, Eating patterns, University athletes, Behavioral determinants, Food choice constraints
How to cite this article: Dagar D, Shrivastava J. Nutrition Knowledge–Behavior Gap in Collegiate Athletes: Influence of Perceived Barriers on Dietary Practices. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(5): 210-214. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.5.23
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None