Eating attitudes of practitioners of resistance training

Abstract

Aim: to analyze eating attitudes of resistance training practitioners and compare it between participant gender, age group, body image and weight status. Materials and Method: participants were 48 female and 45 male, with mean age of 29.04 (8.82) years old, who were resistance training practitioners in gyms of Florianópolis-SC and São José. Information about gender, age, body mass and height to calculate body mass index and classify the weight status, body image (figure rating scale) were collected. In addition, eating attitudes were collect using the Disordered Eating Attitudes Scale (DEAS), and both total score and subscales scores were used. Results: eating attitudes mean score was 70.02 (15.18) points. When compared the eating attitudes and subscales scores between independente variables, women had higher scores compared to men in the total scale (p= 0.002) and in concerns about food and weight gain (p= 0.004) and idea of normal eating (p< 0.001) subscales. Those who were dissatisfied by overweight had higher scores compared to those satisfied and dissatisfied by thinness in the total scale (p< 0.001), and in relationship with food subscale (p< 0.001), while they had higher scores in the concerns about food and weight gain subscale only when compared to those dissatisfied by thinness (p= 0.042). Those dissatisfied (both by overweight and by thinness) also had more restrictive and compensatory practices (p= 0.007) and worse idea of normal eating (p= 0.009) compared to those satisfied. Conclusion: participants of this study had low disordered eating attitudes. Women and dissatisfied ones, generally, had worse eating attitudes.