Can enhanced nutrition knowledge improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet among physically active individuals? Evidence from a cross‐sectional study
Can enhanced nutrition knowledge improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet among physically active individuals? Evidence from a cross‐sectional study
The Mediterranean diet (MD) health benefits are well-known for the general population and athletes alike. Nutrition knowledge can affect food choices and dietary habits. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sports nutrition knowledge and adherence to the MD in physically active individuals (PAI). A total of 400 PAI participated in our cross-sectional study, 74.5% women and 25.5% men. The survey was performed in person. Information on demographic variables, Nutrition for Sports Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ), and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) was collected. Among PAIs, there was low nutritional knowledge (67.8%) and low adherence to the MD (65.5%). There was a significant difference between the levels of sports nutrition knowledge of PAI and MD adherence (Low NK-MEDAS = 6.05 ± 2.50, Very good NK-MEDAS = 7.28 ± 2.06, F = 7.252, p < 0.01). In addition, the relationship between subdimension scores and adherence to the MD level were; total NSKQ score (r = 0.245, p < 0.01), macronutrients (r = 0.22, p < 0.01), micronutrients (r = 0.156, p < 0.01), sports nutrition (r = 0.202, p < 0.01), supplements (r = 0.217, p < 0.01), and alcohol (r = 0.182, p < 0.01), respectively. In conclusion, nutritional knowledge should increase adherence to the MD among PAI. Thus, nutrition education and personalized nutrition counseling could help to improve nutritional knowledge and PAI's adherence to the MD.
MEDAS, Mediterranean diet, NSKQ, nutrition knowledge, physically active individuals
Barcın güzeldere, Hatice kübra
e948ade8-b104-442a-b855-c458124a625e
Aydın, Oğuzhan
dcd5ab4e-6c15-489b-bebf-1b178e390c3a
Kumbasar, Ahmet bedirhan
b63fe4ec-8642-4d57-8a18-635d6e9a4d88
Sinan, Nagihan
7511a977-4371-406d-9efd-dab9a0057a3e
Yıldız, Zeynep zülal
9970fea8-b263-4bfc-b4cb-a196b4b6cca5
Lwaleed, Bashir a.
e7c59131-82ad-4a14-a227-7370e91e3f21
July 2025
Barcın güzeldere, Hatice kübra
e948ade8-b104-442a-b855-c458124a625e
Aydın, Oğuzhan
dcd5ab4e-6c15-489b-bebf-1b178e390c3a
Kumbasar, Ahmet bedirhan
b63fe4ec-8642-4d57-8a18-635d6e9a4d88
Sinan, Nagihan
7511a977-4371-406d-9efd-dab9a0057a3e
Yıldız, Zeynep zülal
9970fea8-b263-4bfc-b4cb-a196b4b6cca5
Lwaleed, Bashir a.
e7c59131-82ad-4a14-a227-7370e91e3f21
Barcın güzeldere, Hatice kübra, Aydın, Oğuzhan, Kumbasar, Ahmet bedirhan, Sinan, Nagihan, Yıldız, Zeynep zülal and Lwaleed, Bashir a.
(2025)
Can enhanced nutrition knowledge improve adherence to the Mediterranean diet among physically active individuals? Evidence from a cross‐sectional study.
Food Science & Nutrition, 13 (7), [e70327].
(doi:10.1002/fsn3.70327).
Abstract
The Mediterranean diet (MD) health benefits are well-known for the general population and athletes alike. Nutrition knowledge can affect food choices and dietary habits. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sports nutrition knowledge and adherence to the MD in physically active individuals (PAI). A total of 400 PAI participated in our cross-sectional study, 74.5% women and 25.5% men. The survey was performed in person. Information on demographic variables, Nutrition for Sports Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ), and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) was collected. Among PAIs, there was low nutritional knowledge (67.8%) and low adherence to the MD (65.5%). There was a significant difference between the levels of sports nutrition knowledge of PAI and MD adherence (Low NK-MEDAS = 6.05 ± 2.50, Very good NK-MEDAS = 7.28 ± 2.06, F = 7.252, p < 0.01). In addition, the relationship between subdimension scores and adherence to the MD level were; total NSKQ score (r = 0.245, p < 0.01), macronutrients (r = 0.22, p < 0.01), micronutrients (r = 0.156, p < 0.01), sports nutrition (r = 0.202, p < 0.01), supplements (r = 0.217, p < 0.01), and alcohol (r = 0.182, p < 0.01), respectively. In conclusion, nutritional knowledge should increase adherence to the MD among PAI. Thus, nutrition education and personalized nutrition counseling could help to improve nutritional knowledge and PAI's adherence to the MD.
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Accepted/In Press date: 9 May 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 8 July 2025
Published date: July 2025
Keywords:
MEDAS, Mediterranean diet, NSKQ, nutrition knowledge, physically active individuals
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Local EPrints ID: 502940
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/502940
PURE UUID: 2f1ed55c-cabe-4a1c-9d43-972b205df8a2
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Date deposited: 14 Jul 2025 16:43
Last modified: 11 Sep 2025 02:12
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Author:
Hatice kübra Barcın güzeldere
Author:
Oğuzhan Aydın
Author:
Ahmet bedirhan Kumbasar
Author:
Nagihan Sinan
Author:
Zeynep zülal Yıldız
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