Body composition, nutritional intake, and physical activity in female futsal players - insights from a Portuguese case-study

  • Ricardo Santos CIFI2D - Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
  • Carla Gonçalves RISE-Health, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; CITAB - Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production (Inov4Agro), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública - Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Resumen

Futsal is a high-intensity, intermittent sport that places significant physical and physiological demands on athletes, making the intersection of nutrition and physical activity pivotal for performance, recovery, and health. Despite the growing participation of women in futsal, data on their nutritional status and body composition remain scarce, particularly in Portugal. This study aimed to assess dietary intake from food diaries, body composition, and physical activity levels in senior female futsal players. Eighteen semi-professional female futsal players were evaluated for anthropometric and body composition (Body Mass Index, muscle mass, body fat), physical activity levels (from IPAQ questionnaire), and dietary intake (from three-day food diaries). Nutrient intake was compared to current sports nutrition guidelines, and low energy availability (LEA) was also assessed. The findings revealed suboptimal intake of carbohydrates, fiber, and critical micronutrients, including calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin D. LEA was identified in 16.7% of participants, suggesting potential health risks. Despite high physical activity levels, nutritional intake frequently fell short of sport-specific recommendations, underscoring the importance of tailored nutritional strategies to support the unique demands of female futsal players, address dietary deficiencies, optimize body composition, and mitigate health risks associated with inadequate nutrient intake and LEA. These findings provide a foundation for developing evidence-based guidelines aimed at enhancing health, performance, and long-term fitness in female futsal athletes.

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Publicado
2025-10-21
Cómo citar
Santos, R., & Gonçalves, C. (2025). Body composition, nutritional intake, and physical activity in female futsal players - insights from a Portuguese case-study. RBNE - Revista Brasileña De Nutrición Deportiva, 19(118), 540-551. Recuperado a partir de https://www.rbne.com.br/index.php/rbne/article/view/2524
Sección
Artículos Científicos - Original