What is the main macronutrient of the diet? Nutritional knowledge of academy attenderes users of supplements

Abstract

Introduction: Practitioners of physical activities without nutritional guidance tend to believe that protein is the main macronutrient of the diet. Objective: To evaluate the profile of users of gyms, who use dietary supplements, according to the knowledge about the macronutrient that should be consumed most in food. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study including 219 individuals of nutritional supplement users who attended gyms in the city of Antônio Prado in Rio Grande do Sul from December 2018 to March 2019. Data collection was performed through a self-administered questionnaire with questions about sociodemographic data, anthropometric, use of nutritional supplements, practice of physical activity and questioning about what should be the main macronutrient of the diet. Results and discussion: The sample had a mean age of 33.83 ± 13.94 years and consisted mainly of women (59.8%). Regarding the knowledge about the macronutrient most consumed in food, 79.5% of the sample believes that it is protein. Among women, the value was 84.7% (p=0.030). Among people who practice physical activity for health reasons, 83.6% believe that protein is the main macronutrient of the diet (p=0.005). The deficiency of knowledge about healthy eating indicates the need for a nutritionist to assist exercisers, to ensure the quality of food and the achievement of the desired objectives. Conclusion: Among users of nutritional supplements and gym goers, there is a high prevalence of individuals who believe that protein is the main macronutrient to be consumed in the diet.