Evaluation of the nutritional state and food consumption of athletes of swimming of the great Florianopolis-SC

Swimming is a sporting modality with high caloric demand. Inadequate energy intake in swimming can lead to impairment of nutritional status and sports performance. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the nutritional status and food intake of swimming athletes from Florianopolis-SC. The sample consisted of 15 adult athletes of both sexes, with a mean age of 21.5 years. To obtain the nutritional variables, a food questionnaire was applied and anthropometry. The information obtained was compared with recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Sports Medicine (2009) and Dietary Reference Intake (2014). The results showed that 100% of the athletes presented below-carbohydrate intake, 73.33% higher than that recommended for protein, and 73.33% presented a hypocaloric diet. In relation to micronutrients, the intake was below the recommendations for both sexes for calcium and vitamin E, and only female athletes presented iron intake below the recommendations. The male athletes were predominant the percentage of body fat above the reference values and in the female values below the reference values. The values found in the present study demonstrated that pre-season swimming athletes did not present an adequate diet in relation to their daily energy needs, showing the importance of the evaluation of the nutritional status and food consumption of swimming athletes with the objective to develop dietary strategies aimed at preserving body composition and guaranteeing tissue regeneration, performance and athletes health.