AbstractsMedical & Health Science

The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the eating behaviors and identify concomitant patterns of dietary intake in high school wrestlers throughout the school week at a Northeastern Ohio public high school. Two 24-hour recalls were administered on a non-match day and a match day and a nutrition questionnaire was also utilized for questions about intake, eating habits, sports nutrition behaviors, sources of nutrition information, and family dynamic at mealtimes.It was found that the majority of high school wrestlers felt that proper nutrition affected their wrestling performance often or always. Based on the nutrition questionnaire, the high school wrestlers reported often or always consuming at least six servings of protein per day, eating at least three meals per day and rarely to sometimes drinking soda. Wrestlers reported most often consulting their coach or parents for weight management advice. Actual dietary intake as recorded by two 24-hour recalls showed that wrestlers met 63.0% of their energy needs on a practice day and 81.7% of energy needs on match day. Wrestlers met an average of 69.0% of their water needs on practice day and 64.0% of water needs on match day. The majority of wrestlers reported viewing nutrition as important to their performance, yet largely failed to meet their nutrition recommendations. This discrepancy shows that it necessary to emphasize healthy practices among these growing adolescent individuals to ensure healthy growth and development through the involvement of coaches, families, peers, and qualified health professionals.