A Study to Determine if University Athletic Teams in Desert Environments Experience Risky Diet-related Behaviours

Authors

Susan Meacham, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Christine Bergman, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Marcia M. Ditmyer, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Kyle Wilson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Connie Mobley, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Keywords

College athletes; Dehydration (Physiology); Dietary supplements; Food habits; Southwest; New

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Medicine and Health | Nutrition | Public Health | Sports Studies

Abstract

Training and competing in desert environments may exacerbate concerns related to disordered eating, supplement use, and hydration in some student athlete populations. A survey administered equitably to both genders solicited self-reported responses from members of 18 different teams over four years from a southwestern United States university athletic program. More than 1,700 athletes responded to 42 items on the questionnaire. Teams, not individual student athletes, were the units of measure for statistical analyses. Initial analysis of results indicated that there were no overt concerns regarding dietary behaviors due to training and competing in the desert environment. Further analysis subjected the team responses to principle component factor analysis and determined the construct validity using Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization. Six factors were identified which accounted for 93% of total variance associated with reported risky dietary related behaviors among athletic teams. Specifically, the factors contributing to dietary related behavior total variance were; 1) weight loss and exercise issues and practices -47.15%, 2) self-image - 26.00%, 3) hydration - 10.92%, 4) supplement use - 3.85%, 5) disordered eating - 3.70%, and 6) hormonal issues - 1.71%. University athletic programs should use routine assessment of dietary related behaviours, including hydration, to help identify team members practicing risky dietary related behaviours.

Recommended Citation

Meacham, Susan; Bergman, Christine; Ditmyer, Marcia M.; Wilson, Kyle; and Mobley, Connie (2008) "A Study to Determine if University Athletic Teams in Desert Environments Experience Risky Diet-related Behaviours," Nevada Journal of Public Health: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/njph/vol5/iss1/4