NUTRI-A project addresses the topic of protecting athletes, especially the youngest, from health hazards by recognising and treating eating disorders and RED-S. The main project objective is to raise awareness about this problem among people responsible for development of young athletes, especially coaches and other professionals in sport clubs and associations. Furthermore, the project wishes to educate young athletes about the importance of correct nutrition to protect their health and achieve better results in sport. In fact, some researches show that eating disorders can have devastating effects on both the health and performance of athletes.
Project objectives are to 1) assess the current situation of eating disorders and RED-S in young athletes, 2) to protect athletes from health hazards by educating them about correct nutrition and to 3) raise awareness of sport professionals about importance of detecting and solving the problem of eating disorder and red-s in young athletes.
Project objectives will be achieved through an extensive nutritional assessment performed in 15 clubs in 3 EU countries, involving 60 young athletes of both genders from different sport disciplines. Assessment results will be then analysed and included in guidelines for the approach to diagnostics and treatment of eating disorders and RED-S. The set objectives will be achieved through multidisciplinary approach of project team, composed by professionals from fields of sport education, nutrition, psychology, medicine and sport IT technologies. The consortium is composed by 4 organisations, representing sport clubs, non-profit organisation and sport tech company, coming from Slovenia, Czech Republic and Croatia.
Project results, the Assessment report on nutritional status of athletes and the Guidelines for the approach to diagnostics and treatment of eating disorders and RED-S, will be disseminated and exploited by all project partners to other sport professionals and stakeholders on local, national and European level. The project is expected to have impact on raised awareness about eating disorders in athletes, helping thus protect them from health and safety hazards in their sport careers.
By inclusion of different target groups into the assessment, supported with IT tools, the NUTRI-A project is contributing to horizontal priorities of inclusion and diversity in sport and innovative practices for digital transformation. By educating about the importance of correct nutrition of athletes the project contributes to specific programme priorities of promoting integrity and values in sport, as well as promoting education in and through sport.
Project partners:
Project duration: 1.5.2022 – 30.10.2023
Erasmus Sport co-financing: 60.000 €
