Nutrition Knowledge Levels of Male Boxers in Junior Category

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the nutritional habits and nutritional knowledge levels of athletes competing in the boxing junior men category (15-16 years old). The sample of the study consists of athletes within the age group of 15-16 competing in the Turkish High School Junior Men's Boxing Championship. The nutrition level scale was applied to the athletes. The data were analysed using Independent Student T test and one-way variance analysis. The majority of the boxers involved in the study were found to be fed enough, received four fundamental food groups on a balanced basis in their meals, made changes in their diet on the days they do sports, paid attention to their pre-workout and post-workout nutrition, and thought that regular nutrition has a positive effect on performance, in addition, it was found that the scale scores were moderate according to the age of sports, national athlete status, weight, nutrition, eating four fundamental food groups of meals, taking care of nutrition during their days and after training, it was also found that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups, that there was a positive effect on the performance of regular nutrition with the boxers who paid attention to pre-workout nutrition and that the boxers with higher nutritional knowledge were significantly higher than the others, and that the nutritional knowledge levels were also influenced by their family income levels. In this research, it can be said that the nutrition knowledge levels of star men boxers are in moderate level and it can be said that the levels of knowledge, especially those with national athlete status and high sports age, is not different from others, in contrast to expectations.