Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective:To assess the nutritional and dietetic profile of freshman Nutrition undergraduate students, and its association with stages of changes (Transtheoretical Model) for fruit and vegetable intake.Methods:Demographic (age and gender), anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference) and nutritional (pattern of fruit and vegetable intake) data were obtained. The Transtheoretical Model was used to identify the stages of change for fruit and vegetable intake. Food consumption was assessed with a questionnaire developed by the Ministry of Health. The significance level considered for all statistical tests was 0.05 (p<0.05).Results:From 433 eligible students, anthropometric measurements were taken from 219 (50.6%), and 299 (69%) underwent food intake evaluation. The sample included undergraduate students with a low frequency of adequate fruit and vegetables intake (29.8%), being the majority (64.9%) of them classified as at the preparation stage to increase the intake of these food groups. Prevalence of adequate fruit and vegetables intake was higher among students at the action/maintenance stages (83.3%) compared to those at the precontemplation/contemplation (18.3%) and at the preparation stages (32.0%). Students at the preparation stage presented the highest medians for body mass index (p=0.004) and waist circumference (p=0.039) compared to those at the precontemplation/contemplation stages. There was no association between fruit and vegetables intake and the presence of overweight or abdominal obesity (p=0.373).Conclusion:This instrument is effective to predict the food intake and, even among aware individuals and ready to change their food behavior, the prevalence of nutritional risk is high.
Highlights
The present study identified a high proportion of individuals with inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables, it was made clear that most of those evaluated are in the preparation stage to modify this behavior
According to Jaime et al,(9) the studies that verify the profile of fruit and vegetable consumption, such as the VIGITEL system,(19) may enable evaluating the impact of government programs directed at promoting the consumption of these groups of foods in the country
The present study does not quantify the servings of fruit and vegetables, it may be affirmed that a low level of consumption of these foods was identified among undergraduate students
Summary
The sample of this cross-sectional study was composed by universe of undergraduate students entering the Nutrition course in the first semester of 2012, at Universidade Nove de Julho in the city of São Paulo.Data collection was carried out from May to November, 2012, in two phases: in the first, anthropometric data (weight, height, and waist circumference − WC) were collected, and in the second, the sociodemographic (age and gender) and nutritional (fruit and vegetable consumption, and eating behavior change stages) data were collected.Gathering anthropometric data was performed at the Nutrition outpatients clinic and at the nutritional evaluation laboratories of the university. Data collection was carried out from May to November, 2012, in two phases: in the first, anthropometric data (weight, height, and waist circumference − WC) were collected, and in the second, the sociodemographic (age and gender) and nutritional (fruit and vegetable consumption, and eating behavior change stages) data were collected. In order to verify the anthropometric measurements, the techniques proposed by the Ministry of Health were adopted.[10] Weight was obtained using Filizola® electronic platform scales, with 100g precision and 150kg capacity. Height was measured with the patient in an erect position, with relaxed arms, feet together united at the heels, calves, gluteus muscles, shoulders, and head next to the SECA® anthropometer with 0.1cm precision fixed to the vertical surface.
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