Carlton, Miller

Description

Food insecurity is associated with disordered eating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) male athletes. This study evaluated the impact of a food education program on youth food security and disordered eating of high school football players in rural, Appalachian Mississippi. A Pre-Post design was utilized. Prospective participants (n=47) were recruited in July, 2019. The 12-week season-long food education program included weekly education with practical food-based sport nutrition principles along with food packages to implement principles at home. Youth food security was measured using Self-administered Youth Food Security Module (Connell, 2004). Disordered eating was measured using 5-item scale (Morgan, Reid, & Lacey, 2000). Change in youth food security was assessed (Pearson Chi-squared). Change in disordered eating score was computed and difference in disordered eating between food secure and food insecure participants was assessed (independent t-test). Participants (n=26/47, 55.3%) completed both the pre- and post-surveys and were: 1) males 16.01.2 years; 2) African American (n=17/26, 65.4%), White (n=8/26, 30.8%), and other (n=1/26, 3.8%); 3) Hispanic (n=1/24, 4.2%); and 4) enrolled in ninth (n=5/26, 19.2%), tenth (n=3/26, 11.5%), eleventh (10/26, 38.5%), or twelfth (n=8/26, 30.8%) grades. Pre youth food security was: food secure (n=21/26, 80.8%) and food insecure (n=5/26, 19.2%), and post youth food security was food secure (n=24/26, 92.3%) and food insecure (n=2, 7.7%). Youth food security significantly changed from pre to post (p=.003). At pre and post, respectively, 1/26 (3.8%) and 3/26 (11.5%) had a disordered eating score consistent with disordered eating. Yet, disordered eating score did not significantly change...

Record Contributed By

University of Mississippi Libraries