Nutritional beliefs and practices of adolescent athletes.

Recent research suggests that the adolescent athlete is neither aware of nor prepared for the dual demands of sound nutritional practices in general and those demanded by his or her chosen sport activities. The dietary practices of young athletes fail to meet the energy requirements for high performance and may also threaten their well-being. To ascertain the dietary practices and beliefs of an adolescent athlete population, a survey was conducted among high school students who were engaged in at least one sport. The results show that students were consuming excessive fats and sugars, and failed to recognize nutritional practices critical to the demands of athletics.