The purpose of this master's thesis was to investigate the level of knowledge regarding nutrition and dietary supplements among female dancers aged 12 to 25, training in Slovenian clubs under the auspices of the Slovenian cheer union. Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining health, preventing injuries, and ensuring optimal athletic performance. However, previous research suggests that female athletes often lack sufficient knowledge of sport nutrition guidelines, which can lead to inadequate dietary habits, low energy availability, and the irrational use of dietary supplements. Data were collected with an online survey covering demographics, knowledge of macro- and micronutrients, hydration, and the use of dietary supplements. A total of 93 dancers participated in the study, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated that the dancers have incomplete knowledge of sports nutrition. The most significant deficiencies were identified in the areas of nutritional importance of micronutrients, energy availability in physical activity, and the use of dietary supplements. More than half of the participants were using supplements without professional supervision. No statistically significant differences in nutritional knowledge were found based on the dancers age (p > 0.05), although older dancers achieved numerically higher means in certain sections. The findings of this research highlight the necessity for systematic nutritional education within dance clubs and the integration of nutrition experts into the training process.
|
