Assessment of Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Behaviour of Sports Persons at a Federal University in Edo State

Adequate nutrition is foundational to sports performance, recovery, and injury prevention, yet many student athletes in Nigerian universities lack the nutrition knowledge necessary to support optimal athletic function. This study assesses nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour among student athletes at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, South South Nigeria. The absence of dedicated sports nutritionists in most Nigerian university athletics programmes means that dietary decisions among student athletes are frequently based on peer advice, social media influence, or cultural practices. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 200 student athletes across six sports disciplines including football, athletics, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and swimming. A validated sports nutrition knowledge questionnaire assessed understanding of macronutrient roles, hydration, meal timing, and recovery nutrition. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall and a sports-specific food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric data including body mass index, body fat percentage estimated via skinfold measures, and muscle mass were recorded. Findings are expected to show moderate to poor nutrition knowledge, with carbohydrate loading misconceptions and inadequate protein intake being common. Female athletes were hypothesised to demonstrate greater dietary restraint compared to male counterparts. The study recommends embedding nutrition education into athletics training programmes in Nigerian universities. Keywords: sports nutrition, student athletes, dietary behaviour, Edo State, nutrition knowledge.