sports consumer & health

sports consumer health

Focuses on the well-being of individuals who engage in sports and physical activities, whether as athletes, recreational participants, or fans. This field encompasses various aspects, including physical health, mental health, injury prevention, nutrition, and the impact of sports on overall lifestyle. Here are key components of sports consumer health:

Our research also investigates the impact of sport contexts on dietary habits and emotional coping strategies. For example, our study "The biased energetic functions of foods: Rivalry and losing games increase sport fans’ preference for unhealthy foods," submitted to the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, explores how rivalries and game outcomes influence fans' preference for high-calorie, unhealthy foods. This research provides critical insights into how sports events can trigger specific dietary behaviors, offering opportunities for interventions that promote healthier choices.

In addition to our publications, we have secured several grants that support our research on sport consumer health. For instance, the project "The taste of sport: HiPerGator supercomputer-powered analysis of food biases, emotions, and dietary habits among sports enthusiasts on social media" was funded by the AI Collaborative Research Projects Seed Grant from the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida. This project utilizes advanced AI techniques to analyze social media data and understand the interplay between emotions, dietary habits, and sports consumption.

Furthermore, our research extends to the well-being of specific fan groups, such as LGBTQ athletes and economically disadvantaged adolescents. One notable project, "Development of interventions programs to facilitate effective emotional coping and healthy eating behavior via virtual reality sports consumption," funded by the Spencer Foundation, aims to create VR-based interventions that promote healthy eating and emotional well-being. This project underscores our commitment to leveraging innovative technologies to improve health outcomes for diverse populations.

Overall, our research at the SMASH lab on Sport Consumer Health is dedicated to uncovering the psychological and social mechanisms that influence health behaviors in sports contexts. By combining rigorous scientific inquiry with practical applications, we aim to contribute to the development of healthier and more supportive sports environments for all fans.

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