Sports · 4 authors, 1 centre
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This cross-sectional study of 227 competitive women bodybuilders compared dietary intake, supplement use, and diet quality between in-season and off-season athletes. The central finding was that while all competitors used supplements and met micronutrient needs, their protein intake was consistently high and overall diet quality, as measured by HEI-2015 scores, was below U.S. dietary guidelines.
This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire and four 24-hour dietary recalls to assess dietary intake, supplement use, and diet quality (HEI-2015) in 227 competitive women bodybuilders. Results showed in-season competitors reported consuming significantly less energy, carbohydrates, and fat but more protein than off-season competitors. All competitors consumed excess protein, while their micronutrient intakes generally met or exceeded Dietary Reference Intakes. Supplements were universally used, with a similar mean number between seasons. HEI-2015 scores, which assess adherence to U.S. Dietary Guidelines, were not significantly different between seasons but were below recommended levels. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported data and the unknown accuracy of weight self-reporting. The study suggests that education is needed for these athletes to align intake with physique-specific recommendations, improve diet quality, and ensure safe supplement use.
