Abstract
This project assessed collegiate athletes' dietary practices, knowledge, and attitudes regarding carbohydrate and athletic performance during the current low-carbohydrate trend. Athletes (N = 165) at a division I university completed questionnaires regarding nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward carbohydrates, and dietary intake. Athletes reported sometimes restricting dietary carbohydrates (44%), with significantly more female athletes reporting restriction (P < .05) than their male counterparts. Responses revealed that 13% of athletes have been on a low-carbohydrate diet. The mean nutrition knowledge was 3.5 +/- 1.5 correct answers out of 7. Carbohydrate attitude responses revealed, only 61.3% agreed that a high-carbohydrate diet could improve athletic performance, with a significantly higher percentage of men agreeing (P < .05) than do women.