The nutrition knowledge of athletes and coaches is often inadequate. However, athletes need sufficient knowledge of this subject to understand the importance of food choices for their athletic performance, recovery, and overall health. Adequate nutrition knowledge and skills are important for coaches because they are often the most significant source of nutrition knowledge for their athletes. Most previous nutrition knowledge studies have been carried out in team sports and outside Scandinavia. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the nutrition knowledge of Finnish endurance athletes (156 males and 156 females; age = 17.9 ± 1.2 years) and their coaches (69 males and 25 females; age = 44.3 ± 12.3 years). The three main sports among the participants were cross-country skiing (n = 53 coaches and n = 111 athletes), orienteering (n = 13 and n = 110), and biathlon (n = 6 and n = 38). On average, the coaches (N = 94) answered 81% ± 9% of the 79 nutrition questionnaire items correctly, whereas the respective result was 73% ± 9% among the athletes (N = 312). The coaches had significantly (p < .001) better nutrition knowledge of all the five subcategories of the questionnaire, whereas the “dietary supplements” and “nutrition recommendations for endurance athletes” subcategories appeared particularly difficult for the athletes. The average nutrition knowledge score of athletes was relatively low. As nutrition knowledge may have a positive association with athletes’ food choices and subsequent dietary intake, Finnish endurance athletes and coaches would benefit from enhanced nutrition education.

Athletes often have significant gaps in their nutrition knowledge. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether young Finnish endurance athletes’ nutrition knowledge and dietary intake can be improved through an education intervention with or without a mobile food application. Seventy-nine endurance athletes, 18.0 years (SD: 1.4), participated in this randomized, controlled intervention. We compared the effects of participatory nutrition education sessions alone (group EDU) to those including the use of a mobile food application (group EDU + APP) for four days after each session. Both groups attended three 90-min education sessions fortnightly. The participants completed a validated nutrition knowledge questionnaire in Weeks 0, 5, and 17, and a three-day food diary in Weeks 0 and 17. The education plan was based on the Self-Determination Theory and the concept of meaningful learning process. The EDU group’s nutrition knowledge scores were: 78 (week 0), 85 (week 5), and 84 (week 17) and the EDU + APP group’s 78, 86, and 85, respectively. Nutrition knowledge increased significantly (main effect of time (p < 0.001)), but we observed no significant group × time interaction (p = 0.309). The changes in dietary intakes were minor (p > 0.05). The amount of carbohydrates was below endurance athletes’ recommendations throughout the intervention. The reported energy intakes were also below the estimated energy expenditures. In conclusion, nutrition knowledge improved significantly after only three education sessions and food diary feedback, but the mobile app did not improve learning further. However, the nutrition education intervention alone was not enough to change dietary intake.

Background: Childhood and adolescent obesity is a growing global health issue linked to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Digital health technologies, including mobile apps and web-based programs, offer scalable tools to improve health behaviors, but their effectiveness in young populations remains unclear. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile and web-based digital interventions in promoting healthy diets, reducing obesity risk, increasing physical activity, and improving nutrition-related knowledge and attitudes among children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, along with hand-searching reference lists of key systematic reviews. The search encompassed records published up to September 30, 2024. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials targeting dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, or nutrition-related attitudes and knowledge among participants aged ≤18 years. Screening, full-text eligibility assessment, and data extraction were done partly in duplicate (20%; κ=0.86 for title or abstract screening, κ=0.71 for full-text eligibility assessment, and κ=0.78 data extraction). Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool (κ=0.71 for interrater reliability of 20% duplicate evaluation). Data were synthesized narratively. Results: From 300 records screened, a total of 37 articles (34 studies) were included. Interventions included games, (in 21/34 studies, 62%), mobile apps, web-based programs, and other digital tools. Among the 34 included studies, 23 (68%) studies reported positive outcomes for at least 1 measured variable. Fruit intake improved in 17 of 34 studies (50%) assessing fruit intake, while 7 of 34 studies (21%) targeting sugar-sweetened beverage consumption showed reductions. Improvements in nutrition knowledge were reported in 23 of 34 (68%) studies, but changes in anthropometric measures and physical activity outcomes showed no effect. Risk of bias was low for random sequence generation but high or unclear in other domains for many studies. Conclusions: Mobile- and web-based interventions, particularly game-based tools, show promise for promoting healthy dietary behaviors and increasing nutrition knowledge in children and adolescents. However, the evidence for long-term sustainability and impact on anthropometric and physical activity outcomes remains limited. Future research should focus on understanding which digital features drive effectiveness, extending follow-up periods, and exploring the role of family involvement in interventions. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42023423512; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=423512

Background: Early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers are ideal venues for food education. As smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly popular in ECEC centers, technology can be used to deliver such pedagogical content. Evidence suggests that video games can affect fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among 9- to 12-year-old children, but studies among preschoolers are scarce. Objective: This paper describes the development of the Mole’s Veggie Adventures app and its effectiveness in increasing FV acceptance among Finnish and Polish preschoolers aged 3 to 6 years. Methods: A multiprofessional team created an app to be used in ECEC centers in groups of 3 to 10 children. The app aimed to increase vegetable acceptance, and it was built using elements that support the development of self-regulation and social skills. Altogether, 7 Finnish and 4 Polish ECEC centers participated in the study. Before randomization, parents reported background factors and their children’s willingness to taste different FVs. The ECEC professionals in the intervention arm were instructed to use the app at least once a week during the 3- to 4-week intervention period. The main outcomes in this unblinded, cluster-randomized study were FV acceptance and relative FV acceptance. The first was calculated as a sum variable describing the children’s willingness to taste 25 different FVs, the second as FV acceptance divided by the number of FVs served. We used analysis of covariance to compare the FV acceptance and relative FV acceptance scores between the intervention and control groups at follow-up. Results: A total of 221 children were included in the analysis. At follow-up, the intervention group (115/221, 52%) had higher FV acceptance scores (baseline adjusted difference of mean 7.22; 95% CI 1.41-13.03) than the control group (106/221, 48%). The intervention effect was parallel for relative FV acceptance scores (baseline adjusted difference of mean 0.28; 95% CI 0.05-0.52). Conclusions: The Mole’s Veggie Adventures app has the potential to increase FV acceptance among preschoolers and can be a valuable tool in supporting food education in ECEC centers. Furthermore, the app can be feasibly incorporated into preschool routines in countries with different educational environments. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05173311; https://tinyurl.com/4vfbh283

The aim of this study was to provide information on energy availability (EA), macronutrient intake, nutritional periodization practices, and nutrition knowledge in young female cross-country skiers. A total of 19 skiers filled in weighted food and training logs before and during a training camp. Nutrition knowledge was assessed via a validated questionnaire. EA was optimal in 11% of athletes at home (mean 33.7 ± 9.6 kcal·kgFFM⁻¹·d⁻¹) and in 42% at camp (mean 40.3 ± 17.3 kcal·kgFFM⁻¹·d⁻¹). Most athletes (74%) failed to meet recommendations for carbohydrate intake at home (mean 5.0 ± 1.2 g·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) and 63% failed to do so at camp (mean 7.1 ± 1.6 g·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹). The lower threshold of the pre-exercise carbohydrate recommendations was met by 58% and 89% of athletes while percentages were 26% and 89% within 1 h after exercise, at home and at camp, respectively. None of the athletes met the recommendations within 4 h after exercise. Nutrition knowledge was associated with EA at home (r = 0.52, p = 0.023), and with daily carbohydrate intake at home (r = 0.62, p = 0.005) and at camp (r = 0.52, p = 0.023). Carbohydrate intake within 1 and 4 h post-exercise at home was associated with better nutrition knowledge (r = 0.65, p = 0.003; r = 0.53, p = 0.019, respectively). In conclusion, young female cross-county skiers had difficulties meeting recommendations for optimal EA and carbohydrate intake. Better nutrition knowledge may help young athletes to meet these recommendations.