Assessment of body composition and dietary intake of adolescent swimmers

ABSTRACT Introduction: Body composition and nutritional habits of swimmers have a direct influence on their sports perfor-mance. Objective: To assess body composition and dietary intake of adolescent swimmers. Method: Cross-sectional study with 15 adolescent swimmers of both genders from a club in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. An identification questionnaire was applied, registering information on weight, height, body circumferences and skinfolds. For the assessment of dietary intake, a 24-hour recall was applied. Results: Most of the athletes presented appropriate body fat percentage. All swimmers ingested dietary supplements. Protein consumption was high and carbohydrate, low. The highest prevalence of inadequate intakes of micronutrients were vitamin B9, iodine and calcium. Conclusion: The results suggest the need for nutritional intervention in this group of athletes.