Sports nutrition knowledge, use and display of supplements for physical educators of Caxias do Sul-RS

Abstract

Introduction: Physical education (PE) teachers are the first contact to physical activity practitioners, being essential they have basic knowledge about sporting nutrition and food supplement use, directing the pupil to the specialized professional. Objectives: evaluate the understanding about sporting nutrition, as well as the use and indication of supplements by gym teachers from Caxias do Sul city. Methods: 110 PE teachers working in gym in the city of Caxias do Sul received a self-applicable questionnaire, with question related to the understanding about sporting nutrition, use and indication of food supplements. To compare response groups we used the Mann-Whitney test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Of participants 55.5% was women, around 32 years old, 50.9% attended the nutrition class during graduation, and attained better marks in the questionnaire. Nearly half the sample uses supplements, pursuing hypertrophy. 21.8% participants usually indicate supplements, however only 15.5% of these feel apt to do it. The indications for supplements are for the most part for hypertrophy, followed by weight gain. From the contacted professionals, 97% agree the nutritionist is the most reliable professional for supplement prescription. Conclusion: It was observed a reasonable understanding about sporting nutrition among professionals, but there is still wrong information to be clarified. The use of supplements by physical educators increases the chances of indicating these products, however they agree the nutritionist is the apt professional to prescribe them. It has been indicated the necessity of supervision to guarantee this practice to be followed.