Nutritional status and sensory perception in older adults with visual impairment

Abstract

Introduction: More than thirty million people worldwide have vision loss, and in Brazil, vision impairment affects more than 18% of the population. Nutritional characterization of the visually impaired is fundamental the, as it assists in the development of appropriate methods of intervention and education in Nutrition nonexistent so far. Objective: evaluate the nutritional profile and sensorial perception of adults and elderly visually impaired. Method: Transversal study which analyzed socioeconomic and demographic data, health habits, nutritional profile and food consumption, beyond the sensorial capabilities of 27 users of a non-profitable institute at Caxias do Sul-RS. Results: the socioeconomic and demographic data analyses showed the predominance of female individuals, unmarried, with partial dependence of third party, from B and C economic classes, unemployed and without medical insurances. Most of the users are no smokers and sedentary. Although most of the users have good eating there was a prevalence of overweight among them. The sensorial analysis showed that the visual experience during life had influence over the fruit recognition. Conclusion: The evaluated users require monitoring from a nutritionist to improve their nutritional condition, since overweight and abdominal fat concentration at the abdominal are aware verified, which could be related to the absence of physical activity of this individual.