Diet of individuals residents in a small city, in the southwest of São Paulo

Abstract

Introduction: Inappropriate eating practices are increasingly frequent in the population, and it has been observed in several studies, the excessive consumption of processed products and less healthy food, including in inner cities. These habits, characteristic of the nutritional transition, are associated with increased risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. Objective: Evaluate the eating habits of the population of the city of Santa Branca. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, with the participation of the adult population living in Santa Branca. Food consumption was estimated from the individual Food Frequency Questionnaire based on an instrument used by the National Health Survey (2008). To assess the nutritional status, the body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and classified by the World Health Organization (1998). This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie and all participants signed an informed consent form. Results: 108 individuals were evaluated, 85 women and 23 men over 18 years of age. Regarding the nutritional status of the participants, it was observed that it was observed that 32.40% of the participants were classified as overweight and 22.22% as obese. There was an adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables, but a high intake of pizzas and snacks, in addition to alcoholic beverages. Conclusion: These data suggest the need for nutritional education programs for these individuals with the aim of preventing diseases and improving their health.