Perception of food patterns among adults using restrictive diets: a prospective observational cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a disease of increasing prevalence among adults in Brazil. It is an undesirable condition both from a health and an aesthetic point of view. The cult of the thin body sometimes motivates the adoption of restrictive diets, which significantly limit the menu. However, the use of this type of diet may be associated with unhealthy repercussions on food, well-being, and weight loss. Objective: To evaluate the perception of the dietary pattern of adult users of restrictive diets in a city in the northwest of São Paulo. Methods: Prospective observational cross-sectional study, carried out through an online questionnaire, with 108 subjects of both genders who perform/have already performed restrictive diets. Results: Predominance of female individuals (84.3%) aged between 18 and 21 years (49.1%). Regarding the Body Mass Index (BMI), 48.1% were classified within the normal range and 31.5% as preobese. In the period before the diet, 72.2% of the participants believed they were overweight. The beginning of the diet was motivated mainly by the desire to lose weight (87%) and its accomplishment happened, in most cases, without professional supervision (58.3%). Excessive eating episodes during the diet period were significant (only 14.8% never experienced it), with feelings of guilt associated in 71.3% of the cases. Conscious control during meals to avoid weight gain occurred with high frequency in 72.3% of cases. Conclusion: A portion of the population presents problematic perceptions about the experience with restrictive diets, which are associated with eating and psychological disorders.