Collegiate

Athlete Food Consumption and Mealtime Behaviors

John Wesley McWhorter, CSCS

The University of Texas Medical Branch

301 University Boulevard

Galveston, TX 77555-0156

(409) 266-9400

Version 1, March 8, 2015

1.

2.

3.

4.

Introduction and Purpose:
Collegiate athletes are a specific and unique population with diverse nutritional
needs across a range of sports, body compositions, and gender and weight
considerations. Several studies exist to determine supplement use, availability of
nutrition services, weight gain and loss, and perceived nutrition knowledge of the
collegiate athlete 1,2,3,4. However, what empirical data is available is limited in its
effort to understand the food consumption and mealtime behaviors, kitchen
facilities available, budgets and barriers to meal preparation of collegiate athletes.
With the recent NCAA deregulation of feeding it is vital for the health and wellbeing,
performance and cost associated with feeding to understand these behaviors. We
hypothesize that real empirical data describing these behaviors could help to
educate sports dietitians with the food consumption and mealtime behaviors of
collegiate athletes and structure the future of collegiate athletic feeding in an
organized more cost-effective and impactful approach.

Background:
A team of researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch participated in a
conference call to discuss the nutritional wants and needs of collegiate athletes.
Through the conversation we realized the need for data on food consumption and
mealtime behaviors of collegiate athletes. As a goal to better prepare dietetic
students and practicing sports dietitians we desire to understand these behaviors in
collegiate athletes. We believe data of this kind could help to focus the care and
scope of practice for sports dietitians. College and University athletic programs
could see potential benefits of the information with the recent NCAA deregulations
of feeding athletes by helping them to develop proper guidelines for educating
athletes on food consumption and mealtime behavior.

Concise Summary of Project:
We will survey collegiate athletes across the country on their food consumption and
mealtime behaviors including:
Meal/food consumption habits/quantity/frequency
Food/grocery purchasing habits
Perceived barriers to meal preparation
Type and frequency of kitchen facility available
Average available food budget
The research group will include athletes from across the country from various
universities and colleges in urban and rural environments with different ethnic and
cultural backgrounds in order to obtain more valid and useful data. We will analyze
and categorize the data.

Study Procedures:
We will use the web-based survey platform Survey Monkey to develop and host the
survey. We will source our questions from previous validated surveys. A hyperlink
will be created to allow easy access to the web-based survey (appendix xx). We will

disseminate the survey through various contacts within the research group and
professional organizations. Step by step directions (appendix xx) will accompany
the hyperlink for distribution of the survey. Athletic directors, coaches and other
sports staff will be asked to disseminate the survey link via email, text messaging
and/or other electronic means of communication. We will use APP to analyze and
categorize the data for publication.

5. Sub-Study Procedures:
N/A

6. Criteria for Inclusion of Subjects:
Participants must be a current undergraduate collegiate athlete participating (team
roster) in a sport at a United States based University or College during 2015-2016
academic year

7. Criteria for Exclusion of Subjects:
Exclusions include any reason athlete is not able to participate in their respective
sport for the current season (2015-2016 academic year)

8. Sources of Research Material:

9. Recruitment Methods and Consenting Process:
Recruiting Methods:
Recruitment will be achieved through various contacts within the research group
and professional organizations via email, text messaging, and other electronic
means of communication.

Consenting Process:
The collegiate athletes will receive the link with directions on how to access the
survey. An informed consent form will be included in the survey link. The
participants will be informed that the activity involves research and participation is
voluntary and can be terminated at any point in their involvement. They will receive
a brief description of the study purpose and the types of questions involved.
Information on why and how the subjects were selected will be available and
confidentiality of the research data will be maintained. The athletes will then be
prompted to fill out the survey along with a minimal amount non-identifiable
information (college or university, sport, position, ethnic background and gender) to
aid in the accuracy and categorization of the data received.

10. Potential Risks:
Given that we are not collection identifying information or asking sensitive
questions, we do not anticipate any risks. However, athletes struggling with eating
disorders may choose not to complete the survey. If at any time a volunteer is
uncomfortable they may discontinue the survey.

11. Subject Safety and Data Monitoring:

N/A

12. Procedures to Maintain Confidentiality:
This study will be anonymous. Since we are not taking any identifiable data
confidentiality is not of concern.

13. Potential Benefits:
No direct benefit to respondents; results will be shared with participating
institutions.




References:

1. Jacobson BH, Sobonya C, Ransone J. Nutrition practices and knowledge of
college varsity athletes: a follow-up. J Strength Cond Res. 2001;15(1):63-8.
2. Burns RD, Schiller MR, Merrick MA, Wolf KN. Intercollegiate student athlete
use of nutritional supplements and the role of athletic trainers and dietitians
in nutrition counseling. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104(2):246-9.
3. Heffner JL, Ogles BM, Gold E, Marsden K, Johnson M. Nutrition and eating in
female college athletes: a survey of coaches. Eat Disord. 2003;11(3):209-20.
4. Kurka JM, Buman MP, Ainsworth BE. Validity of the Rapid Eating Assessment
for Patients for assessing dietary patterns in NCAA athletes. J Int Soc Sports
Nutr. 2014;11:42.

Doctoral Dissertations:
5. Yokum, Glenna M. A Study of College Athletes' Dietary Habits, Food
Preparation Skills, and Source of Nutrition Information. Diss. University of
Nebraska--Lincoln, 2006.
6. Fassiotto, Christina D. Nutrition knowledge and dietary practices of college
athletes. Diss. California Polytechnic State University, 1994.

Appendix xx

Distributor Directions

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch are interested in
studying the food consumption and mealtime behaviors of collegiate athletes.
We have developed an online survey that can be sent to any collegiate athlete
who us currently on a team roster regardless of sport.
Below is a link to the study with step-by-step directions for your athletes.
Simply copy and paste the link and directions and forward the information to
your athletes for participation.
The survey can be completed via computer or mobile device.
There is no cost or direct benefit to your athlete or yourself.
If there are any questions or concerns please respond to the contact via
email.
Thank you for your help in our research study




Step-By-Step Directions

The survey is completely voluntary. The survey is anonymous and we will
take absolutely no identifiable information.
If you wish to participate simply click on the link below and you will be taken
to the consent page of the survey.
Read through the informed consent. If you agree to participate then select
agree. If you choose not to participate in the survey then you can exit the web
page at anytime.
Once you have agreed to the consent form you will be taken to the next page
to fill out background information including but not limited to: University or
College, sport of play, positions, academic year, gender, and ethnic
background.
Next you will be taken to the survey. Answer the questions to the best of your
ability. If at anytime you are uncomfortable with the line of questioning you
can exit the survey without repercussion.
After answering the last question select submit so that your answers will be
recorded.
Thank you for participating in our research study.