FOOD CONSUMPTION OF BODYBUILDERS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

In recent years, gyms, plastic surgery clinics, and cosmetic treatment centers have become part of a rapidly growing market, often regarded as factories producing the ideal body. In this same vein, the aim of this study is to investigate, in the literature, the dietary habits of individuals engaged in weightlifting. A bibliographical search was conducted using the following keywords: Dietary habits of weightlifters, weightlifting, macronutrients, micronutrients, nutrition. The search encompassed scientific articles published between 2018 and 2023, available in the Scielo, Pubmed, and Brazilian Journal of Sports Nutrition databases, in both English and Portuguese, to allow for a broader scope of works published in the databases used. Following the preliminary selection of articles based on title readings, abstracts were reviewed to gather more detailed information. Furthermore, a detailed and critical analysis of the selected studies was carried out after reviewing the abstracts, with the goal of identifying the central themes of each study and subsequently grouping subtopics that synthesize the findings. Through the evaluation of the works, it was evident that there are dietary inadequacies and the use of dietary supplements without the guidance of a nutritionist or physician. This underscores the need for raising awareness about the importance and benefits of nutrition in this sport.