The effects of a nutritional Intervention in the food consumption of young Rugby athletes

Introduction and objective: Adequate nutrition will provide the necessary energy for vital functions and better food choices, which will impact performance during exercise and health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a nutritional intervention on the food consumption of young Rugby athletes. Materials and methods: Intervention study with 15 athletes from public schools and residents from the outskirts of the city of Pelotas. Food consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and a 24-hour recall. Assessments were made before and after the nutritional intervention. Statistical analyzes were performed on Stata 14.0 (R), with a 5% significance level. Results: Regarding food consumption, there was a low consumption of vegetables and fruits and eggs and a high consumption of sausages, processed products and soft drinks. Discussion: Studies with adolescents show an inadequate consumption of foods such as fruits, vegetables and high consumption of unhealthy foods. Conclusion: There were improvements in the consumption of some food groups, but new nutritional interventions are still needed, in order to enable greater knowledge about food, allowing for more appropriate food exchanges.