Her Life Depends on it III: Sport, Physical Activity and the Health and Well-being of American Girls and Women

Her Life Depends On It III is the Women's Sports Foundation's comprehensive report that reviews existing and emerging research on the links between participation in sport and physical activity and the health and wellbeing of American girls and women. As with the previous editions in 2004 and 2009, this study also confirms that physical activity and sport provides the critical foundation, in no small part, that allows girls and women to lead healthy, strong, and fulfilled lives. Ten years since its first publication, the updated Her Life Depends On It provides an even more comprehensive review of the ever-expanding body of research that demonstrates how important it is for girls and women to participate in sport and physical activity. The report's contents reflect the review of 1,500 studies, nearly 400 covered since the previous edition

Nutrient Status and perceptions of energy and macronutrient intake in a Group of Collegiate Female Lacrosse Athletes

Background The purpose of this study was to compare nutritional intakes against recommended values as well as between the perceived intake and needs of female lacrosse players. Methods Twenty female NCAA Division II lacrosse players (20.0 ± 1.7 yrs., 169.7 ± 6.4 cm; 69.9 ± 10.7 kg; 27.5 ± 3.3% fat) completed a four-day monitoring period during in-season. Athletes were outfitted with an activity monitor over four consecutive days and completed four-day food records to assess total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and dietary intake. Body composition was assessed and used to calculate recommended dietary intakes. Actual intake was self-reported using a commercially available food tracking program (MyFitnessPal©, USA). Daily average values were calculated for total and relative energy, protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake. These values were then compared to published nutritional recommendations established by the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Appropriate pairwise comparisons were made depending on the normality of the distribution. Results Athletes ate significantly less than recommended values for energy, carbohydrates and protein. (p \u3c 0.001). Significant discrepancies (p \u3c 0.001) were also observed between perceptions of intake versus actual intake. Conclusions Athletes significantly underestimated perceived intake of dietary fat and carbohydrate when compared to perceived needs. Massive standard deviations and ranges were observed, suggesting that some athletes lack a basic understanding of their daily needs. Results from this data suggest that collegiate athletes lack appropriate understanding of basic nutrition needs and could benefit from basic nutrition education as it pertains to their health and performance

Sports nutrition practices of selected elite NCAA Division I athletic departments

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sports nutrition practices of NCAA Division I elite-level college athletic departments. More specifically, this study examined the perceptions of Registered Dietitians (RDs ), Strength and Conditioning Coaches (SCCs), and Athletic Trainers (ATCs) on the following considerations of sports nutrition services: a) qualifications, classifications, and attributes of RDs, b) roles and responsibilities of RDs, c) factors influencing the employment of RDs, d) resources available to implement sports nutrition services, and e) the nutrition needs of student athletes and benefits of nutrition for student-athletes. Data were collected through a two part survey consisting of open and closed-ended questions the respondent being the principal provider of sports nutrition services at each athletic department. Participants of the study were determined by athletic ranking in football and post season bowl game appearances. Seventy-two universities in six conferences: SEC, Big 12, Big 10, ACC, PAC 10, and Big East as well as three teams placing in the top 25 AP Poll for 2002 were included in the present study. From this sample, 19 Division I athletic departments. confirmed employment of an RD. While this research showed that RDs are increasingly being utilized by athletic departments to provide sports nutrition services, a comparison of current implementations of RD services to the advances documented in sports nutrition and dietetics literature in the dietetics indicated abundant potential for increased utilization of RDs by college athletic departments\u27. RDs must participate in evidence-based research to develop benchmarks or standards of best practice validating RDs as the authority of sports nutrition services for athletes. In this way, RDs in college athletic departments can document the benefits they provide in the development of student-athletes. Evidence-based research documents the benefits RDs provide to college athletic department, and shows the usefulness of RDs for college athletic departments. It can be used to increase the demand for RDs in college athletics and validate their employment

The Effect of Media Coverage of Female Athletes and the Impact on How These Athletes View Their Body

Research indicates that in today’s society media has a powerful effect on the body image of female athletes. The purpose of this synthesis was to review the literature on the effect of media coverage of female athletes and the impact on how these athletes view their body. Results indicate that there is an overall detrimental relationship between the influences of media and the way female athletes view their bodies

Body composition, nutritional intake assessment, and perceptions about diet for health and performance: an exploratory study for senior futsal players

This study aims to assess the body composition and nutritional intake of senior male futsal players from the II Futsal Division—Azores Series and explore their individual viewpoints regarding the benefits and barriers of healthy eating and performance. Two groups were identified: those who only completed the sociodemographic questionnaire and the anthropometric data (Group 1, n = 48), and those who additionally had their food intake assessed using three 24-h dietary recalls and were interviewed (Group 2, n = 20). Although most of the players have a healthy body composition, those from Group 2 had a significantly higher Body Mass Index, showing that they are under “pre-obesity”, and have a higher percentage of body fat compared to the players from Group 1. Findings from the nutritional intake assessment revealed that players from Group 2 met dietary recommendations for protein, but not for energy and carbohydrate, and they slightly exceeded recommendations for fat. Findings from the interviews revealed that most of these players reported low levels of satisfaction with their sport performance, explained by their deviation from a healthy eating practice in their daily lives. They recognized the need to alter their diets, identifying food items that should be taken and avoided.The authors thank the participants for their time and effort in partaking in this study. The authors are grateful to Luís M. Cunha, from FCUP, for discussion and suggestions of the statistical analysis. The authors are also grateful to José B. Cunha, from TUDelft, for reviewing the usage of the English language throughout the manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutrition Education and the Effects on Athletic Performance in Collegiate Athletes with Low Energy Availability

Current research suggests that collegiate athletes lack nutritional knowledge needed for optimal athletic performance. The absence of basic nutritional knowledge in college athletes puts them at an increased risk for RED-S and its sports performance consequences. The objective of this narrative review is to evaluate the literature on low energy availability in collegiate athletes and determine if nutrition education can improve athletic performance. Multiple studies concluded that nutrition education may improve dietary intake in collegiate athletes, while there was one contradicting study that found that athletes improved nutritional knowledge but did not improve dietary intake. 3 studies found that low energy availability results in negative effects on athletic performance. The research is limited on how nutrition education and knowledge influences athletic performance. It can be predicted that increased knowledge may improve low EA thus improving athletic performance in collegiate athletes. Future research should focus on the relationship between having a registered dietitian as part of the athletic team and nutrition knowledge, behaviors, and athletic performance in athletes. Additionally, interventions provided by a registered dietitian may fill the knowledge gap and improve health and performance in athletes

Factors Influencing Recruitment of Collegiate Basketball Players in Institutions of Higher Education in the Upper Midwest

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors that influenced college basketball players to choose to attend a certain institution of higher education. The secondary purpose was to learn if the perceptions of head college basketball coaches as to reasons for student athletes to choose a college were the same as the student athletes\u27 stated reasons. The study sought to determine what factors influence athletes\u27 decisions and whether those factors differed for female and male athletes, female and male coaches, athletes from different divisions, and coaches from different divisions. The study was intended to contribute to knowledge in the area of college athletic recruiting. A survey instrument was developed by the writer and sent to head basketball coaches and their varsity athletes of ten NCAA Division I, ten NCAA Division II, and twenty-eight NAIA colleges in the upper midwest. Results of the study indicate that the top three reasons for student athletes to choose to attend a certain college were the academic reputation of the college, the athletic scholarship, and the basketball program and tradition. The top three perceptions of college coaches as to why a student athlete chooses to attend a certain college were the academic reputation of the college, the basketball program and the tradition, and the athletic scholarship. The people who most influenced the student athletes to choose a certain college were the athlete\u27s father, the athlete\u27s mother, and the head college basketball coach. The campus facilities which most impressed student athletes during their on campus visits were the athletic facilities, the academic facilities, and the campus grounds. The facts that high school senior student athletes were most unclear about when selecting a college were what is important to look for in a college, identifying their own ability in knowing what level they can play, and how financial aid and scholarships work. Recommendations based on the results of the study were made to student athletes, high school coaches and counselors, parents of student athletes, and college coaches and recruiters. In addition, recommendations for future research about recruitment of student athletes are made

Collegiate Football Players Perception of the COVID-19 Virtual College Experience

The world was faced with chaos as the COVID-19 virus surged impacting the lives of everyone around the world. Quickly, nations and states began to lockdown as people were required to stay inside and socially distance from one another. The pandemic changed the lives of collegiate football players’ drastically. It left collegiate football players stranded away from teammates, coaches, families, and resources. The research design was a mixed method design consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data. The data obtained from this research focused on major themes of how collegiate football players perceived the pandemics virtual college experience, the challenges faced, and ways they were able to adapt to the challenges. The crucial data points of perceptions of the COVID-19 virtual college experience included the dislike of online learning, seasons being cancelled, and no sense of routine. Challenges associated with the virtual college experience were staying in shape, finding motivation, and online learning. Collegiate football players adapted by overcommunicating, video chatting, connecting with friends and family, and physical activity. Collegiate football players faced the unknown. Routines uprooted and the complete reliance on themselves. Collegiate football players found unique ways to adapt to a serious and unsafe situation

Promoting Well-Being Among Intercollegiate Student-Athletes: A Gratitude Intervention Using Positive Psychology

Intercollegiate student-athletes face rising stress and pressures which challenge their well-being and mental health, and sometimes with alarming concerns. Over the years, supportive services and resources specifically available to student-athletes have not evolved at the same pace as student-athlete needs. Also, barriers and stigmas hinder student-athletes from readily accessing supportive mental health services. The high stress of student-athletes can contribute to the development of negative mental health symptoms and impairs positive well-being. Evidence supports how outreach initiatives help student-athletes. Positive psychology, including gratitude as a positive psychological state, has shown benefits to well-being. This experimental study design researched if the implementation of an educational gratitude workshop for student-athletes could increase their self-reported perceptions of well-being and reduce stress. To my knowledge, this is the first known experimental study design to research a gratitude workshop intervention among student-athletes. There was a total of 54 participants who were enrolled at a Division II institution in the Midwest as a student-athlete, regardless if their sport was in-season or out-of-season at the time of the workshop. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group to assess differences, and all participants completed a survey after the workshop. The post-workshop assessment survey evaluated self-reported measures of state gratitude, psychological distress, life satisfaction, athlete burnout, and perceived available support in sport. All measures were analyzed separately, and statistical significance was found in two scales: emotional support within the perceived available support in sport scale (p = 0.023) and workshop meaningfulness (p = 0.0006). While all participants in this study revealed moderate, overall state gratitude levels in life, the workshop significantly influenced the experimental group’s perceived available support in sport, emotionally. The data suggest that student-athletes do not perceive enough emotional support is available for them in sport

Athletics reform and faculty perceptions

Recent reform initiatives have offered ideas for improving academic and financial oversight, but the ideas do not always conform to faculty perceptions and opinions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64568/1/370_ftp.pd