Food Insecurity And Eating Behaviors Of Collegiate Male Athletes

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship of high school (HS) and collegiate (OM) household food security status (FSS) to current food consumption behaviors in a sample of NCAA Division 1 male, collegiate athletes ≥18 years of age (y). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of NCAA athletes from a Southeastern Conference (SEC) university was approved by the Institutional Review Board and conducted during August-September, 2016. The questionnaire included the USDA food security survey module and questions related to disordered eating behaviors and food hoarding USDA methods were used to calculate FSS. RESULTS: Participating athletes (n=111) were 19.7±1.4 y and primarily white, football players [Race: white (n=63, 56.8%); black (n=38, 34.2%); other (n=10, 9.0%)] [Sport: football (n=62, 55.9%); baseball (n=20, 18.0%); cross country/track (n=17, 15.3%); golf (n=4, 3.6%) basketball (n=8, 7.2%)] [(HSFSS: high food security (n=91, 82.0%); marginal food security (n=5, 4.5%); low food security (n=8, 7.2%); very low food security (n=7, 6.3%). HSFSS was significantly correlated with preoccupation with food in college (taub= 0.276, P=.001), but not with binge eating in college (taub= -.034, P=0.712). OMFSS was significantly correlated with preoccupation with food in college (taub=.336, P<.001) and keep/hiding food in lockers (taub=-.272, p=.003). CONCLUSION: HSFSS is associated with preoccupation with food in male collegiate athletes. OMFSS is associated with preoccupation with food and food hoarding in male collegiate athletes. Screening for FI and disordered behaviors in this group is warranted. Future research in a larger sample across several institutions that includes females is warranted.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nutrition and Hospitality Management

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Poll, Kacie

Contributors dc:contributor

• David Holben
• Hyun-Woo Joung
• Melinda Valliant

• Collegiate Athletes
• Disordered Eating
• Eating Behaviors
• Food Insecurity
• Male Athletes
• Nutrition

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/590

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-1589