Consumo alimentar e estado nutricional de mulheres em situação de vulnerabilidade social

Abstract

A new lifestyle resulting from the influence of urbanization and industrialization marked the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, which contributed to changes in the eating habits of the population. The changes in the pattern of food consumption resulted in the Food and Nutritional Transition and had a direct impact on the individuals' body composition. The objective of this study was to verify the frequency of food consumption according to the degree of processing, and its correlation with the nutritional status of women in situations of social vulnerability. This is a cross-sectional study with the universe of mothers of children assisted at the semi-boarding school at the Center for Nutritional Education and Recovery. An interview was conducted and socioeconomic and food consumption information was collected through the ELSA-Brasil Food Frequency Questionnaire, and anthropometric assessment with weight and height measurements for later calculation of the Body Mass Index to determine the nutritional status. The data were tabulated and analyzed with the aid of the Excel 2013 program. It was found a high frequency of overweight and low consumption of all types of food. It was not possible to verify a strong correlation between consumption and nutritional status. The results of this study suggest a condition of food insecurity and point to the need for expanded and detailed investigation of the determinants of health-disease related to consumption and nutritional status in this group with a focus on adequate food, providing incentive strategies and the possibility of consuming fresh foods, minimally processed and local products and less consumption of ultra- rocessed foods