Caracterização e avaliação da frequência alimentar de praticantes de caminhada no município de Santa Cruz - RN.

Abstract

Walking is one of the popular physical activities, which provides a significant energy expenditure, acting in the control of body weight, reducing the risk factors for the onset of diseases and improving the quality of life. Many studies have shown the effect of diet habit and sports practice, isolated or combined, there’s a consensus in the literature the show us the body weight loss when associated to feeding habits, current scientific researches stimulate the sports practice and the start of a well balanced feeding habit, providing the necessary amount of nutrients, restoration and organic tissues growth. Therefore, This study has as objective to qualify and evaluate the Ecological Park of the Town of Santa Cruz/RN walking practitioners’ feeding frequency. Feeding Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) were applied. As a method, this study was done with 60 walking practitioners from both genders, aged among 18 and 60 years old that go to the Ecological Park of Santa Cruz/RN with good frequency. As a data collection instrument were used two semi-structured questionnaires, one to characterize the study population with 10 closed questions about feeding habits and physical activities, and one Feeding Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), where the foods were distributed in 11 categories, and the participants informed the frequency they eat each of them. For the evaluation of the anthropometric profile was measured weight and height, and according to their BMI was diagnosed the nutritional state of the practitioner. The results indicate that 44,4% are eutrophic, and 53,7% of the park goers are in a state of overweight and/or obesity. When it comes to feeding frequency, between the many food categories stands out the consume of vegetables, fruits, candies and desserts, Where 57,4% consume vegetables more than 7 times a week, 79,6% consume fruits more than 7 times a week, 59,3% consume candies and desserts more than 7 times a week. Therefore, from these results we concluded that the BMI can make up the nutritional state since it’s not a trustworthy parameter and it’s not able to evaluate the thin mass, and we realize there’s an unbalancing in the association between physical activity and healthy eating.