Investigation of nutritional attitudes of professional and amateur football players

ABSTRACT This study examined the attitudes of professional and amateur football players towards healthy eating in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and occupational factors. A total of 223 football players aged 18-35 participated in the study. Participants' eating habits and attitudes towards healthy eating were evaluated based on variables such as marital status, education level, football status, and occupations outside of football. The findings revealed that married football players had significantly higher levels of nutritional knowledge compared to single players (p<0.05). Attitudes towards healthy eating improved with higher education levels, with postgraduate football players demonstrating the highest awareness of healthy eating. However, no significant differences were found in positive or poor eating habits across groups. Professional football players were found to be more informed about nutrition compared to amateur players. However, the duration of football careers, planned retirement age, and having a second occupation outside football did not significantly affect attitudes towards healthy eating. These findings highlight the need for more comprehensive and systematic educational programs to enhance nutritional awareness among football players. Future research should aim to include broader samples encompassing individuals from various sports disciplines. KeyTerms:Football Player, HealthyEating, EatingHabits, ScienceCode: 130301