Understanding healthy body and dieting of youth athletes among Javanese Muslim parents

Abstract

This phenomenological research is aimed to explore the perspectives of parents about the healthy body and dietary requirements for youth athletes. Data were obtained from the Javanese Muslim parents who have children who are youth athletes in two provinces of Indonesia, Central Java and East Java. Interviews were conducted with nine participants using a semi-structured guideline. Data analysis used Giorgi phenomenological approach. This study found various perceptions about the healthy body and dieting of youth athletes. Parents perceived a healthy body could be shown by no injury and the ability to reach the targets in either training or competing. As Muslims, they emphasized the importance of providing halal food because the food that enters the body would affect bodily functions. They stressed the importance of supplements to replace the lack of nutrients in the body and increased water intake. However, they expressed confusion in the composition, portion and frequency of nutrition for athletes. The limited understanding of nutrition for athletes urged parents to value the importance of advice from health workers related to maintaining athletes’ performance and the nutrition they needed. The results of this study indicated the need to improve parents’ knowledge and skills regarding nutrition management to maintain athletes’ performance by considering Islamic laws.