(P02-031-25) Predictors of Diet Quality Among University Student-Athletes

Objectives: The objective of this research is to assess the diet quality of student-athletes at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and to identify factors associated with diet quality.

Methods: In September and October 2024, researchers attended athletics teams’ meetings, with permission from coaching staff, and invited student-athletes to complete an online survey assessing social and demographic characteristics, food security status, and mental and physical health, and nutrition behaviors. The shortened Healthy Eating Index (sHEI) was tabulated. Multiple linear regression was used to test potential explanatory variables for their association with sHEI.

Results: Of 177 student-athletes who agreed to be screened, 170 were determined to be eligible and 169 consented to complete the survey. The mean age of respondents was 20.5 ± 2.0 years, and 45.6% of respondents identified their gender as female. The mean sHEI score was 50.0 ± 9.2, and was similar between male and female student-athletes (males 49.3 ± 9.1; females 50.8 ± 9.4). In multiple linear regression, student-athletes’ self-reported cooking skills, measured via a 5-point Likert scale, was positively associated with sHEI (β=1.8, 95% confidence interval 0.3, 3.2). Student-athletes who attended high school outside of the United States had higher sHEI, though the difference did not reach statistical significance (β=3.3, 95% confidence interval -0.1, 6.7). Age; race; gender; food security status; whether respondents said they are trying to gain weight, lose weight or neither; receipt of a scholarship; self-reported mental health; and participation in a campus meal plan were not associated with sHEI (all p >0.1).

Conclusions: There is opportunity for improvement in student-athletes’ diet quality. Improving student-athletes’ cooking skills and/or self-efficacy could be a potential strategy to improve their diet quality; future research should explore this knowledge gap.

Funding Sources: The University of Alaska Anchorage School of Preventive and Therapeutic Sciences and the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Community Engagement & Learning provided financial support for this research.