International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health

The aim of this study was to examine the nutritional attitudes, self-efficacy and behavior patterns of young and child athletes according to gender and age. Seventy-six children and young fencing athletes aged 9-17 years (girls: 30 and boys: 46), who attended a camp in Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University campus in Dardanos, participated in the research. The research measurements and tests were carried out by the Sports Sciences and Sports Medicine Research and Application Center. The height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of the athletes were calculated and Nutritional Self-efficacy Scale, Nutritional Attitude Scale and Nutritional Behavior Scale were used for nutritional behavior and opinions. The t test and the Mann Whitney U test were used to determine the differences between age groups and genders. Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation between BMI index and age. There was no significant difference between nutritional attitude score, self-efficacy score and nutrition behavior scores of boy and girl athletes (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between nutrition attitude scores between 9-11 and 12-17 year olds (p0.05). The relationship between BMI and attitude score was found to be significant (p=0.023, p