ANTHROPOMETRIC AND DIETETIC STUDY OF COMP ETITIVE SWIMMERS OF METROPOLITAN-AREAS OF SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

The daily food intake and alimentary frequency of competitive swimmers of two clubs representative of the two largest cities in Brazil (S.Pa ulo and Rio de Janeiro) were studied. The 30 males and 37 females stud ied belonged to the swimming categories ''junior'' (15-17 yrs old) and ''senior'' (18-25 yrs old). Food intake obtained from self-register a nd 24 hour-recall showed similar results and therefore the 24 hour-rec all was used for comparisons with the literature. Ages within both sex es were anthropometrically similar. The most frequently eaten foodstaf fs were similar to those quoted by the metropolitan population of the respective areas. Moroever, the athletes from both cities reported sim ilar food-supplements. The energy intake was found to average almost d ouble the estimated value for the respective metropolitan populations, but were similar to results obtained for swimmers all over the world. Snacks between meals supplied 25-28% of the overall energy intake. Th e main caloric source were cereals. However, despite their contributio n of almost 50% of the total energy intake, carbohydrates attained a l evel of only 55-60% of that recommended for competitive athletes. On t he other hand, the protein intake found (2.5-3.0 g/kg/day) exceeded th e recommended values by 100%. The fat intake particularly of satured f at, was also considered high. The swimmers' intake of micronutrients w as well abone that quoted by the regular population of these metropoli tan areas, when related to the caloric intake, but the values of Mg, F e and vitamins A and D were somecohot lower than those recommended. Th is is due to the higers energy intake of the swimmers. From these over all results it may be concluded that the alimentary pattern of the swi mmers studied does not differ greatly from that of the local populatio n, being distinguished by its higher and more frequent intake of calor ic foods rather than by its qualitative aspects.