Dietary Quality Maintained among Overweight Brazilian Women Enrolled in a Primary Healthcare Service.

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to evaluate the dietary quality maintained among 113 overweight [body mass index (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m²] women aged ≥20 years, who were enrolled in a Brazilian primary healthcare service in 2009. Dietary quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-1995, which was adapted in the Brazilian context. Statistical analysis included linear regression adjusted by self-reporting energy intake. The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m²), elevated waist-circumference, and excessive body-fat were 85.8%, 98.2%, and 100% respectively. Data on dietary quality indicated an HEI score of 66.6 (11.3), with low mean scores for ‘milk and dairy products’ (2.6) and ‘vegetables’ (3.1). The calcium (ß=0.40) and vitamin C (ß=0.27) intake was positively associated with the HEI score. Fat (ß=−0.38) and sodium (ß=−0.21) intake and protein adequacy (ß=−18.17) were inversely associated with the dietary quality. We found that the dietary quality in this study population needs improvement, demonstrating the importance of nutritional counselling within the primary healthcare service.