Assessing the Nutrition Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Fitness Professionals

Abstract

Today we live in the world where everyone is a nutrition expert. All you have to do is click on Google, pick a magazine or ask anyone who is somehow related to fitness. There are thousands of health clubs, gyms and group-exercise facilities out there. Most people, working in the fitness industry, are giving out nutrition advice to their clients. This happens because of one simple reason; people believe in their trainers and ask their instructors for advice. Their instructors are usually in great shape, have a ton of energy and are expected to know the answer to every question. The purpose of this study is to use a quantitative approach (online survey) to assess the nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of fitness professionals. Our goal is to understand whether fitness professionals are able to provide reliable nutrition information to their clients. The findings help us to determine the extent and type of education needed to help fitness professionals expand their knowledge in nutrition. “Assessing the nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of fitness professionals” research is helping to evaluate the need of nutrition education in the fitness field. A very limited amount of studies have been done on this topic. Further research may be needed to improve the reliability of this study. Research questions that need to be answered are: “Do fitness professionals have any knowledge about nutrition? Are they providing nutrition advice to their clients? Evaluation of the knowledge and beliefs of fitness professionals with the survey tool helps to establish whether their knowledge is not contradicting the information that is provided by nutrition professionals.