Journal of Exercise Physiology in Special Populations

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude, nutritional performance and health of 10-12 yearsold male athletes in Tabriz city

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 3. Associate Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz.iran

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, nutritional performance and health of 10-12-year-old male athletes in Tabriz city. Methods: Among the adolescent athletes, 338 adolescent athletes aged 10 to 12 years were selected. The participants were divided into three age groups based on age. Then, data were collected using standard questionnaires on nutritional knowledge, attitude, and performance and measuring dominant hand grip strength with a hand dynamometer. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson correlation tests, paired t-test, and one-way analysis of variance . Results: The mean scores of nutritional knowledge in the 9.10-10 age group (18.01±7.95) were low (P=0.001), but were moderate in other age groups (P<0.05). Also, the mean scores of nutritional attitude in the 9.10-10, 9.11-11, and 9.12-12 age groups were low (P<0.001), moderate (P<0.05), and high (P<0.001), respectively. In contrast, the mean scores of nutritional performance in the 9.10-10 age group (3.16±1.53) were low (P=0.03), but were high in two age groups (P<0.001). The mean score of health index and the score of health index to body mass index ratio were low and low in all three age groups (P<0.001). In the age group of 12.9-12 years, there was a significant negative relationship between nutritional knowledge (r=-0.18, p=0.03) and nutritional attitude (r=-0.16, p=0.05) and body mass index. Conclusion: The nutritional knowledge, attitude, and performance of adolescent athletes in the study population are at a poor level, indicating the need to provide educational interventions in the field of nutrition for adolescent athletes.

Keywords

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Journal of Exercise Physiology in Special Populations
Volume 2, Issue 4
March 2026
Pages 1-17