Associação do sexo com sintomas relacionados à nutrição e ao exercício físico em adultos

Abstract

Regular exercisers have a higher quality of life and a longer life expectancy. However, self-perceived discomfort during training can discourage continued sports practice. This study investigated the association between sex and symptoms related to nutrition and physical exercise in adults. Conducted through a questionnaire, the study included 170 female and male adult participants who practiced physical exercise. Participants completed an online questionnaire on the Google Forms platform, in which personal data, details about physical exercise, eating habits, and symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort, neuromuscular discomfort, and mood-related complaints were assessed. For statistical analysis, participants were grouped by sex, 51.76% (n = 88) were female and 48.23% (n = 82) were male, and specific tests were used for categorical and quantitative data, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Among the participants, 44.12% of females reported feeling symptoms of discomfort during training. A higher incidence of symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and flatulence was observed in females, attributed to physiological differences, hydration, use of supplements and diet. The premenstrual and menstrual phases also showed an influence on exercise practice in the female group. It was concluded that female exercise practitioners were more sensitive to discomforts related to training and nutrition. Further studies are needed to investigate the causes of this discomfort and ways to minimize it, especially in female athletes, and to support an individualized intervention.