Vol. 12, Special Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Ansh Vyas and Dr. Sarla Lakhawat

Abstract:
Nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice are critical components of an individual's total health and well-being. Assessing health trainers' nutritional KAP can assist in identifying areas for development and provide opportunities for further education and training. This, in turn, can improve their capacity to assist clients in making informed decisions regarding their nutrition and overall health. This study aimed to investigate the nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practices of health and wellness instructors and assess their nutritional status. A total of 60 instructors from gyms, yoga centers, and sports academies in Udaipur City, Rajasthan, were randomly selected. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on their background information, nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practices. Anthropometric measurements were performed to assess their nutritional status. The results showed variations in demographic characteristics. The average age across occupations was 29.55 years, and all participants were males. Gym instructors had an average height of 1.72+0.10 meters and weight of 81.47+14.4 kilograms, while yoga instructors had the highest average height (1.94+1.07 meters) and the lowest average weight (68.37+11.30 kilograms). The assessment of nutritional knowledge revealed gym instructors had the highest mean score (17.67), while sports instructors had the lowest (14.47). Most instructors recognized the importance of micronutrients (76.6%) and macronutrients (70.0%). However, some provided incorrect answers, indicating the need for further education. Regarding nutritional practices, only 20.0% of instructors consumed the appropriate number of meals per day. Approximately 43.3% consumed water or fluids before sports activities, and 41.7% consumed water or fluids throughout the day. The intervention involved a nutritional booklet, and post-assessment showed improved nutritional knowledge among the instructors. They demonstrated enhanced understanding of macronutrients, micronutrients, and dietary guidelines. In conclusion, this study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve the nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health and wellness instructors. Implementing interventions, such as the use of a nutritional booklet, can effectively enhance instructors' understanding and application of nutrition knowledge.