Aim: This study aims to assess the nutritional status of women paralympic athletes and their nutritional knowledge. Methods: Twenty two players of National Wheelchair Women Basketball Team (15--38 years) participated in this study. Participation's nutritional status, nutritional knowledge are aimed to be assessed by having them answer the questionnaire (76 questions). Players were at sport camp during the assessment where their body weight is measured regularly by the team coach. The waist, hip size and the height of the players who are able to stand have been used for the assessment while the knee height of the players who are not able to stand have been measured for the study. SPSS 15.0 and BEBIS (Nutritional Data System) have been used for statistical assessment. Results: The average age and sport years as a player of the participants are respectively 25.5±7.2 years and 3.9±2.8 years. The average daily energy consumption is 2867.8±523.6 kcal/day. The average proportion of energy, converted from carbohydrate, protein, fat are been calculated as, respectively 42.7% (5.3±1.5 g/kg/day), 13.3% (1.6±0.3 g/kg/day), 44% (2.5±0.8 g/kg/day). It is also found that Vitamin B1, folic acid, magnesium, iron and fiber have not been consumed enough. The questions mostly answered correcty, have been asked to assess the players' basic knowledge while the questions about sport nutrition have been mostly answered incorrectly. Conclusion: Athletes have inadequate food consumption and nutrition information. The athletes have to be educated more about nutrition and they should have nutritional counseling support.
© Copyright 2016 The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. Edizioni Minerva Medica. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.