Aside from the mental strain of finals and term papers that occupy the typical university student's time, college athletes face additional pressures such as maintaining their athletic physique. Pamela Hinton, assistant professor of nutritional sciences in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, found that most college athletes aren't getting the daily dose of nutrition they need to support these activities and stresses.

In a recent study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, Hinton found that only 15 percent of college athletes had an adequate intake of carbohydrates and 26 percent of athletes had an adequate intake of protein based on dietary recommendations for athletes.

"Carbohydrates are the preferred muscle fuel during exercise," Hinton said. "Athletic performance is enhanced by consuming carbohydrates at the pre-competition meal, during the event and immediately after competition. Adequate dietary protein is needed to maintain skeletal muscle mass."

However, Hinton found that males do not appear to be consuming enough carbohydrates and are more likely to exceed the dietary guidelines for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium than females. "The dietary guidelines are intended to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in U.S. adults," Hinton said.

The study also revealed that 62 percent of female athletes wanted to lose at least five pounds, regardless of their sport. Hinton said the absence of differences among sports was unexpected. It is generally accepted that female athletes competing in sports that emphasize leanness or a prepubescent body shape, such as swimming and gymnastics, experience greater pressure to maintain a particular body weight, composition or physique compared to athletes in other sports. She said the finding that the majority of female athletes wanted to lose weight, regardless of their sport, probably reflects societal pressure on women to be thin.

Hinton said that compared to other athletes, college athletes' hectic schedules and housing situations may be reasons why they suffer from inadequate nutrient intake.

"Class and practice schedules influence when the athletes are able to eat, as well as the type and quantity of food they consume," Hinton said. "Other factors such as whether the athlete is living in a dormitory, has facilities for food preparation and access to grocery stores, or is eligible to consume meals at the training table provided by the athletic department also might influence nutrient intake."

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