MINDS VS.

STRENGTH: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON THE NUTRITIONAL

KNOWLEDGE AND DIETARY HABITS AMONG THE ATHLETES AND ACADEMIC
ACHIEVERS IN ZNNHS
1
Neem Vivien G. Acama 1 Jamael L. Burngawan 1 Mae R. Telmo
1
Albert R. Doren Jr. 1 Claurence C. Palpagan
2
Jeovanny A. Marticion

Abstract
This present study focused on the level of nutritional knowledge and the quality of dietary
habits being practiced among the academic achievers and athletic students in Zamboanga del
Norte National High School, Junior High Department. The study also looked into the difference
between the nutritional knowledge and dietary habits among the athletes and academic
achievers. The sources of information of the participants were also determined. Descriptive test,
mean, and independent t-test were used by the researchers. The 212 respondents from Science
and Technology, Engineering Program (STEP) and Special Program in Sports (SPS) were
selected through cluster sampling. Results of the study show that the academic achievers and the
athletes have a high level of nutritional knowledge with respect to the average score of 2.6875
for the academic achievers and the athletes averaging 2.6475 and no significant difference from
each other based on the computed p-value of 0.484. Meanwhile, it also revealed that both the
academic achievers and athletic students practice a good dietary habit with an accumulated
average of 2.75 for the athletes and 2.65 for the academic achievers and a p-value of 0.205
implying no significant difference between the two groups’ dietary habits. Furthermore, it was
found that both the academic achievers and athletes share the same sources of information.

Keywords: Nutritional knowledge, Dietary habits, Athletes, Academic achievers

INTRODUCTION and focus on different things are some of the

Nutritional knowledge is particularized
as a consumer's capability of elaborate and
systematic apprehension of nutrition-related
product information [1]. In order to use this
knowledge, consumers need to be able and
willing to process the information and use it in
making their choices. Nutritional knowledge is
not just the assimilation of authentic and
scientific information, it is beyond the factual
knowledge, as it relates to nutrition, including
procedural and social knowledge [2].
Meanwhile, disserting about dietary habits,
these are the habitual decisions that an
individual or culture make when choosing what
food to eat [3]. Dietary habits play a significant
role in the quality of life particularly defining
culture, religion, health and longevity.
Most of the time, students and athletes
are left with very little time to meet their
nutritional needs. Unable to meet with the ideal
dietary habits is a common problem among
students. Limited time, stress, lack of money
1Zamboanga
underlying causes of this problem [4]. Hence,
it's effortless to understand that students and
athletes would rather focus on studies, social
activities, trainings and interests rather than on
what they intake.
Developing healthy habits can make a
significant impact on a student’s academic
performance. It is clear that making healthy
choices when it comes to food brings numerous
benefits, and academic performance is no
exception, as it improves grades and helps
concentration [5]. In-depth studies look at a
variety of health factors, with each generally
contributing to factors in student's academic
performance. A particular study suggested that
poor academic performance is resulted from
deficient dietary habits particularly inadequate
intake of essential nutrients and high
consumption of fats and sugar due to habitual
partake of fast food [6]. In addition, another
study substantiated that eating 3 times per day
without skipping meals, especially breakfast,
and having frequent intakes of fresh fruits,
del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT
vegetables, and milk were related to good
school performance [7].
Good nutrition is important for
everyone, but athletes in particular feel firsthand
how inadequate diet can affect their
performance [8]. Athletic activities demand a
great amount of energy, a high level of
competitiveness in most sports makes athletes
prone to assent with the latest trend of diet or
supplements, unhealthy dietary habits do not
only affect the athlete's performance in the
competition but also provides a negative impact
on their overall health [9].
Nutritional knowledge and dietary habits
have been the central ideas of the past
researches. However few studies have further
concentrated on the differences between the
nutritional knowledge and dietary habits among
academic achievers and athletic students. It is
vital to study on the assessments of nutritional
knowledge and dietary habits among students,
not only because it can facilitate the
development of health promotion and
prevention, but also provide information about
desirable dietary behaviors to further enhance
the quality of students, particularly athletes, the
school is producing.
Figure 1. Schema of the Study
ACADEMIC
ACHIEVERS Nutritional
Knowledge and
Dietary Habits
ATHLETES
This study is concerned with the
comparison of the nutritional knowledge and
dietary habits among academic achievers and
athletic students.
1Zamboanga
METHODS
Sampling and Study Location: A total of 212
participants were selected from the Junior High
School students enrolled at Zamboanga del
Norte National High School. The participants
are under the special curriculum of Science,
Technology, and Engineering Program (STEP)
and the Special Program in Sports (SPS). Out of
the 212 respondents, 120 are STEP students
having the average grade of 90 and above based
on their last recorded grade of the semester, of
which 40 are males and 80 are females. On the
other hand, the SPS students consist of 92,
where 46 are females and 46 are males. The
participant’s age ranges from 12 to 17 years old.
These students were chosen to be the study’s
participants in the belief that they could give
valuable information given their enrollment in
the aforementioned specialized curricula.
Students under the SPS curriculum have
nutritional knowledge and proper dietary habits
as one of their central topics as athletes are
supposed to be the most health conscious
individuals due to their active lifestyle and
intense training coupled with the nutritional
demands of their respective sports.
Meanwhile, the STEP students
specializing science is expected to have in their
curriculum, topics concerned with the human
body such as one focused on health and
nutrition making it very possible for the
academic achievers to possess good knowledge
of things pertaining healthy lifestyle. With these
advantages, it is expected that all of them can
give us profound answers as these advantages
are well connected to the study, and may only
vary in their own nutritional knowledge and
dietary habits.
Data Collection: In gathering data, the
purposive sampling technique was used by the
researchers. An adapted questionnaire-checklist
was utilized in the study [9]. The questionnaire
comes in three sections: A, B, and C, with a
corresponding total of 47 questions.
del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT
In Section A. Social-demography, participants Moreover, 37% of them are classified as
were asked to fill up their name, gender, age, underweight leaving only 1% of the academic
weight and height. In Section B. Food Habits, achievers to be overweight with regards to the
BMI computation [10]. Meanwhile, no athletes
the participants marked a check on the columns
are classified as obese and overweight with 62%
provided that has corresponding numbers based of them being normal leaving the other 38% to
on the references (4 = Always: 5-7 days a week, be underweight.
3 = Often: 3-4 days a week, 2 = Sometimes: 1-2
days a week, 1 = Never: Does not occur at all). Figure 2. Body Mass Index
Meanwhile, in Section C. Nutrition Knowledge,
the participants placed a check on the given ACADEMIC
ATHLETES
columns that has corresponding numbers based ACHIEVERS
on the references (4 = Strongly agree, 3 = 1%0%
Agree, 2 = Disagree, 1 = Strongly disagree, 0% 0%

and 0 = I don’t know). 37%

38%
62% 62%
Data Analysis: The data gathered were
analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive Underweight Underweight
test, mean, and independent t-test were used in Normal Normal
this study. The significance level was set at Overweight Overweight
p<0.05 for all analysis. For the dietary habits in
Obese Obese
the present study, a mean score of 1-1.75 is
categorized as POOR, 1.76-2.50 as FAIR, 2.51-
3.25 as GOOD, and 3.26-4.00 as EXCELLENT On the other hand, Figure 3 shows that
while for the level of nutritional knowledge an most of the academic achievers (27.50%) are
average score of 0-0.80 is considered to be fourteen and fifteen year-olds. Only 19.20% of
the achievers are 13 year-olds while 15.80% of
VERY LOW, 0.81-1.60 as LOW, 1.61-2.40 as
them are 16 year-olds. A very small percentage
MODERATE, 2.41-3.20 as HIGH, and a mean of the group are twelve year-olds (7.50%) and
score of 3.21-4.00 as VERY HIGH. The Body seventeen year-olds (2.50%).
Mass Index of the participants were calculated
by dividing the weight in kilograms by the Figure 3. Age Range for the Academic
square of the height in meters (kg/m2) and the Achievers
Body Mass indexes are classified accordingly:
18.5 below = Underweight, 18.5-24.99 =
Normal, and 25.0-29.99 = Overweight, and 30
and above = Obese [10].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Profile of the respondents: As can be seen in

Figure 2, majority (62%) of the academic
achievers are having a normal BMI with none of
them falling under the classification of obese.

1Zamboanga del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT

Figure 4. Age Range for the Athletes

Table 2. Quality of Dietary Habit Among

Athletes
Reflected in Figure 4 are the athletic
respondents’ age percentage. As can be seen the
group is majorly composed of thirteen year-olds
(44.60%) followed closely by fourteen year-olds
(40.20%). 9.80% of the group are aged fifteen,
4.30% are twelve year-olds, 2.20% are sixteen
year-olds, and only 1.10% are aged seventeen.

Dietary habits: Table 1 shows an accumulated

weighted mean of 2.65 for the mean scores of
the academic achievers. This signifies a good
dietary habit among the academic achievers
basing the results with the ratio scale followed
by the study. This supports that dietary habits is
more favorable with higher academic
achievements [11].

Table 1. Quality of Dietary Habit Among

Academic Achievers

On a similar note, Table 2 reveals a

weighted mean of 2.75 among the athletic
students’ dietary habit which means that they
likewise have a good dietary habit with
accordance to the scale for the quality of dietary
habit used in this study. This correlates that
healthy dietary habits is the heart of competitive
athlete’s training and conditioning [12].

1Zamboanga del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT

Table 3. Significant difference between
academic achievers and athletes in terms of
dietary habits

With these weighted means, the results

of the independent t-test for the dietary habit
of the academic achievers and athletic students
are reflected below in Table 3 which shows that
there is no significant difference between the
dietary habits among the athletes and academic
achievers due to the significant value of 0.564
which is evidently greater than the p-value
(0.05), arriving to the decision to reject the null
hypothesis.
The findings of the present study were
different from the study conducted in National
University Malaysia which showed that non-
athletic students display healthier dietary habits
than athletic students [9].

Nutritional knowledge: Table 4 manifests a

weighted mean of 2.69 in the nutritional
knowledge of the academic achievers implying
a high nutritional knowledge within the group
complying with the ratio scale followed in the
study. This is consistent, that high academics is
a determinants of having high level of
nutritional knowledge [13].

Table 4. Level of Nutritional Knowledge

Among Academic Achievers

1Zamboanga del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT

Table 5. Level of Nutritional Knowledge
Among Athletes

On the other hand, the weighted mean of

the athletes are shown in Table 5 which presents
a weighted mean of 2.65, which can be further
categorized, using the ratio scale of the study
regarding the level of nutritional knowledge, as
HIGH. This testifies that there is a relevant
nutritional knowledge among individuals who
are sportily inclined [14].

Table 6. Significant Difference between the

Nutritional Knowledge of the Academic
Achievers and Athletes

With these, Table 6 includes the results

of the independent t-test done for the analysis of
the nutritional knowledge among the academic
achievers and athletic students. In the table, a
significant value of 0.546, greater than the alpha
value (0.05), was reflected which means that
there is no significant difference between the
nutritional knowledge of the athletic students
and academic achievers. The results do not go
with the findings of a similar study which
revealed that intercollegiate athletes have lower
levels of nutritional knowledge than non-athlete
students [15].
1Zamboanga del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT
Source of Nutrition Information: Listed in Conclusions and Recommendations
Figures 5 and 6 are the sources of information
of the participants. According to Figure 5, In conclusion, the academic achievers
majority (80.8%) of the academic achievers are mainly composed of fourteen and fifteen
identified family, friends, and neighbors to be year-old students while the athletes are majorly
the sources of their information, however 10% aged thirteen. It was found that most of the
of them chose medical experts, and the academic achievers and athletes are with normal
remaining 9.2% claimed media to be the source BMI’s. Moreover, the athletes and academic
of their basic information in nutrition. achievers both possess good dietary habits
owing to the accumulated mean score of 2.70,
Figure 5. Source of Information of Academic and no significant difference was found between
Achievers the two groups’ dietary habits, since the
computed p-value which is 0.564 is greater than
the alpha value (α=0.05). In addition, it was
ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS discovered that the athletes and academic
140 120 100.0% achievers both possess a high level of nutritional
120 97 knowledge with a mean score of 2.67. In
100 80.8%
80 connection to this, no significant difference was
60
40 12 10.0% 11 9.2% also found between the nutritional knowledge of
20 the academic achievers and athletic students,
0
since the computed p-value which is 0.546.
Total
MEDIA
FAMILY/FRIEND/NEI

MEDICAL EXPERTS

Furthermore, it was revealed that the main

GHBOR

sources of information on nutritional knowledge

and dietary habits of both the athletes and
academic achievers are their family, friends, and
neighbors.
Valid

Frequency Percent
The researchers recommend a similar
study focusing on measuring the relationship
between the profile of the students, sources of
Similarly, Figure 6 shows that most of the information and nutritional knowledge and
athletes (55.4%) acquired their nutrition dietary habits. Additionally, a study on the
information from their family, friends, and relationship of nutritional knowledge and
neighbors, while 25% gained it from their dietary habits is also recommended. Equal
coach, and 19.6% of them acquired it from sample sizes should be the basis of the future
medical experts. researchers. The findings of this study could be
used as a guideline for the ZNNHS High School
Figure 5. Source of Information of Athletes Department in implementing programs to
further strengthen the current status of
ATHLETES nutritional knowledge and dietary habits among
the athletic and non-athletic students of the
120 92 100.0% institution.
100
80 51 55.4%
60 23 25.0%
40 18 19.6%
20
0 REFERENCES
COACH

MEDICAL
FAMILY/FRIEND

Total
EXPERTS

[1] Science Direct. (2015). Nutrition

/NEIGHBOR

Knowledge. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-
science/nutrition-knowledge
[2] Hoffman, S. R. (2017). Nutrition Knowledge
Valid
– an Overview. Retrieved from
Frequency Percent
1Zamboanga del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-
science/nutrition-knowledge
[3] iMedPub. (2018). Dietary Habits. Retrieved
from
http://www.imedpub.com/scholarly/dietary-
habits-journals-articles-ppts-list.php
[4] Karlsson, V. (2017). Dietary Habits.
Korolinska Institute, Swedish.
[5] Clark. (2017).The Link Between Healthy
Habits And Academic Achievement. Retrieved
from
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hiclark.co
m/blog/the-link-between-healthy-habits-and-
academic-achievement/amp/
[6] Deseret News (2015). Is fast food
influencing your child's academic success?.
Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.deseretne
ws.com/article/865619904/Is-fast-food-
influencing-your-childs-academic-success.amp
[7] Kim, S.Y., Sim, S., and Choi, H. G. (2016).
Dietary Habits Are Associated With School
Performance in Adolescents. Department of
Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery,
Seoul National University Hospital (SYK).
[8] Morgan, R. (2010). Good Nutrition for
Athletes. Retrieved from
https://www.livestrong.com/article/445770-the-
importance-of-good-nutrition-for-athletes/
[9] Sedek, R., and Yun Yih, T. (2014). Dietary
Habits and Nutrition Knowledge among
Athletes and
Non-Athletes in National University of
Malaysia (UKM). School of
Chemical Sciences and Food Technology,
National University of Malaysia. Malaysia
1Zamboanga
[10] World Health Organization (2019). BMI
Classification. Retrieved from
http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?fbclid=IwAR
0DLgdXT_QRetVqVRJ5RbBAVdI10kHQwux
vlszTcUYT6nzC6PnZ3LCGFWA
[11] Burrows, T. L., Whatnall, M. C., Patterson,
A. J., & Hutchesson, M. J. (2017, September
25). Associations between Dietary Intake and
Academic Achievement in College Students: A
Systematic Review. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PM
C5746694/#__ffn_sectitle
[12] Nascimento et al (2016). Effect of a
Nutritional Intervention in Athlete’s Body
Composition, Eating Behaviour and Nutritional
Knowledge: A Comparison between Adults and
Adolescents. Retrieved from
https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&source=w
eb&rct=j&url=https://www.mdpi.com/2072-
6643/8/9/535/pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiSwYDryIPh
AhWSheYKHRQhBwAQFjACegQIBxAB&us
g=AOvVaw2DqD8l_xR8EPxt0eeiu5lZ
[13] Al-Isa, A., Alfaddagh, A. (2014).
Nutritional knowledge among Kuwaiti college
students. Department of Community Medicine,
Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
City, Kuwait.
[14] Crowe, B. (2018). Eating Habits or
Nutrition of Athletes. Healthy Eating | SF Gate.
Retrieved from
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-habits-
nutrition-athletes-10703.html. Accessed 14
March 2019.
[15] Holden et al (2014). Comparison of the
Nutritional Knowledge of College Athletes and
Non-Athletes. Retrieved from
https://aahperd.confex.com/aahperd/2014/webpr
ogram/Paper19363.html
del Norte National High School 2Mindanao State University-IIT