Regular leisure physical activity and food habits

Abstract

Regular physical activity is normally more easily associated with healthy food habits. The present study presents data of 14 assiduous gym members. The main goal is to evaluate if the physical active habits are combined with healthy food habits. The gym members had their weight and body fat mass measured in a Body Fat Scale (Tanita TBF‐300) and filled a questionnaire about food habits and a general food knowledge questionnaire.The anthropometric evaluation showed that 57% of this small sample was within their recommended weight range and healthy body fat percentages. Even so, 2 individuals were obese. The vast majority (78%) doesn't drink alcoholic beverages except in special occasions and there was just one smoker in the group. They choose foods mainly because there are nutritional balanced (43%) or healthy (21%) and the food habits and frequency questionnaire revealed a low sugar, salt and processed meats consume. General food knowledge is poor in what concerns to different types of fat and recommended fruit and vegetable portions.This group already endorses some healthy food habits; further evaluations of more gym members are needed in order to evaluate intervention needs in these individuals.