Authors

Sergio Pouso Cánive1, María Giráldez Miranda2

Position

1Enfermero. Hospital Nuestra Señora de Fátima.Vigo (Pontevedra)2Enfermera. Hospital Povisa. Vigo (Pontevedra). Profesora asociada de la Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería (Povisa). Universidad de Vigo. Tutora de prácticas del Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG)

Contact address

Sergio Pouso Cánive. C/ Manzanares, 23-2º. 15960 Ribeira (A Coruña).

Contact email: sergiopouso123@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objectives: to compare nutritional habits between professional and amateur athletes, in terms of the nutritional pyramid recommendations.
Methodology: a descriptive, observational, transversal study was conducted with professional and amateur athletes in the city of Vigo, assessing their intake of the main food groups, as well as the number of meals per day. Some of the sports selected were: football, basketball, swimming, cycling, athletics or running, and martial arts. Data were collected through a specific questionnaire validated by 10 experts, and printed copies were distributed in different sport centres in Vigo, and by e-mail to two teams from the city: R.C. Celta de Atletismo and the Asociación de Peñas Recreativas “El Olivo”.
Results: the total population analyzed included 266 athletes, 104 professionals and 162 amateurs; 58.7% (n= 61) of professionals and 61.7% (n= 100) of amateurs were male. The intake data per athlete group were the following: cereals, pasta and potatoes (16.3% of professionals and 7.4% of amateurs), vegetables (20.2% of professionals and 20.4% of amateurs), olive oil (2.9% of professionals and 1.9% of amateurs) and water (12.5% of professionals and 11.7% of amateurs).
Conclusions: nutritional habits can be considered quite similar between professional and amateur athletes, regarding the diet recommendations in the nutritional pyramid. Both groups were far from meeting them all, but professionals were closer to a balanced diet than amateurs.

Keywords:

Nutritional habits; Nutrition; sports; exercise; diet

Versión en Español

Título:

Hábitos dietéticos entre deportistas profesionales y aficionados