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Australian athletes' health behaviours and perceptions of role modelling and marketing of unhealthy products
Author(s) -
Grunseit Anne C.,
MacNiven Rona,
Orr Rhonda,
Grassmayr Matt,
Kelly Bridget,
Davies Daniel,
Colagiuri Stephen,
Bauman Adrian E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he12063
Subject(s) - athletes , health promotion , promotion (chess) , public health , elite athletes , elite , medicine , perception , psychology , physical therapy , political science , nursing , neuroscience , politics , law
Issue addressed This study examined Australian athletes' support for athletes' role in promoting physical activity and obesity prevention, the acceptability of unhealthy products promotion in sport, and their own health behaviours. Methods Surveys were conducted with (n = 1990) elite and sub‐elite athletes recruited from 22 sports across Australia. Athletes' perceptions and behaviours were analysed across demographic and sport‐related factors (e.g. individual vs team sport) and correlations calculated between perceptions and health behaviours. Results Most respondents supported a role for athletes in promoting physical activity and obesity prevention, and disagreed that athletes should promote unhealthy foods and alcohol (73.9%). Athletes reported low smoking rates, but high rates of binge drinking. Female, younger, individual and amateur athletes had more health‐positive perceptions and healthier behaviours than older, male, team and professional athletes. More sympathy towards junk food and alcohol advertising in sport and less support for athletes as role models were associated with more unhealthy behaviours. Conclusions Elite athletes are receptive to supporting health promotion through sport and many are not in agreement with the promotion of unhealthy products in sport or by sports people. Improving elite athletes' health behaviours would benefit not only the individual but also health promotion within elite sport. So what? As key stakeholders in the debate, public health advocates and health policy makers could use support for health promotion among elite athletes to challenge the links between (especially male and team) sport and unhealthy behaviours currently reinforced by sponsorship and advertising of unhealthy products.