RELAÇÃO ENTRE PADRÕES ALIMENTARES E ESTADO NUTRICIONAL EM UNIVERSITÁRIOS

Abstract

Introduction: Food is one of the main factors for health promotion. Academic and lifestyle situations make it difficult for university students to take care of their own food, due to factors such as omission of meals, high consumption of snacks, psychosocial instability, triggering possible chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in this population. A group of foods often consumed by a person or population is called a dietary pattern. Objective: Analyze and associate dietary patterns and the nutritional status of university students. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study with a descriptive and analytical approach, carried out at a private University in Fortaleza, Ceará. An interview was conducted to collect socioeconomic, demographic, anthropometric and food consumption data. The sample consisted of 150 students. Results: Three dietary patterns have been identified. Women showed greater adherence than men to the healthy pattern. Most university students aged 19 to 24 years old showed high adherence to the mixed pattern. Students who showed excess weight had greater adherence to the healthy pattern. Individuals who had a BMI classified as having normal weight had high adherence to the mixed pattern. Conclusions: The dietary pattern of college students has a significant influence on age, sex, overweight and BMI.