Post-Exercise Nutrition Knowledge and Adherence to Recommendations Among Amateur Endurance Athletes

Background/Objectives: Optimal post-exercise nutrition is critical for maximizing recovery and subsequent performance. However, athletes often lack knowledge of guidelines, leading to suboptimal practices, particularly inadequate carbohydrate intake for glycogen resynthesis. This study aimed to assess the adherence of Hungarian endurance athletes to nutritional recommendations, identifying deficits and guiding the development of effective educational strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional study surveyed 113 amateur Hungarian endurance athletes (mean age 40.04 ± 9.89 years) training ≥ 3 times/week using a self-developed online questionnaire. A ten-item composite measure, the Post-Exercise Nutrition Recommendation Adherence Score (PENRAS, max 10 points), was calculated to assess adherence. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and regression, were used to explore factors influencing PENRAS and nutritional practices. Results: The overall mean PENRAS was 5.32 ± 1.52, indicating room for improvement. The most pronounced deficit was observed in quantitative knowledge, with only 1.8% of participants correctly identifying the optimal carbohydrate content required for rapid glycogen resynthesis. Concurrently, high protein content (58.4%) was mentioned by a higher percentage than high carbohydrate content (52.2%) as an aspect of post-exercise meal planning. Triathletes had significantly higher PENRAS than runners (6.28 vs. 4.97, p = 0.001). Higher PENRAS was also significantly associated with consultation with a dietitian (p = 0.018). Reliance on professionals positively predicted knowledge, while online sources were a significant negative predictor. Higher PENRAS was associated with better meal planning and earlier post-exercise meal timing. Conclusions: Endurance athletes' post-exercise nutritional practices are suboptimal. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions prioritizing education on carbohydrate intake and redirecting athletes towards evidence-based information to improve adherence and performance outcomes.