ABSTRACT
Prior studies on perceived healthiness of foods have often compared nutrient and hedonic claims, neglecting comparisons to a control condition. The effect of food claims focusing on the food processing level has received considerably less research attention, although food processing has been included in dietary guidelines in Brazil. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the effect of a control and processing claim, additionally to the effects of a nutrient. and hedonic claim, on perceptions related to a food item typically considered "less healthy" (chocolate cake). We further compared these effects between Brazil and Germany, a country where food processing is currently not included in dietary guidelines. A total of 634 lay adults were recruited in a cross-sectional online study and randomised to see the photo of a piece of cake with one of the four different claim conditions and to report their health-related perceptions of the cake. The main analyses included two-way ANCOVAs (4 claims x 2 countries) for each dependent variable controlled for gender, age and level of hunger; followed by post hoc tests. Overall, results revealed that in both countries, the claims highlighting nutrients or processing aspects rendered the perceptions of the cake healthier compared to the control claim. These effects were more pronounced among Brazilian than among German participants. Food-related perceptions mostly did not differ between the hedonic and control claim and did not differ at all between the nutrient and processing claims. In conclusion, it is noteworthy that, even for an inherently considered "less healthy food item" (chocolate cake) nutrient and processing claims increase healthiness perceptions. While our findings may imply that in both countries lay people are highly susceptible to nutrient claims, food processing aspects seem to be similarly relevant.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated which foods are most saliently judged as healthy and unhealthy in Brazil and Germany and the reasons for these judgements. Dietary guidelines in the two countries differ in that those in Brazil are based on a food processing classification rather than nutrient profiling, whereas dietary guidelines in Germany do not include the processing level of food. In an online study with 355 lay adults (Brazil n = 205, Germany n = 150), we explored which foods are listed as healthy and unhealthy using a free-listing method. The main reasons for these healthiness judgements were then identified with a one or two-word phrase and compared between countries. Saliency analysis was conducted to identify the 15 most salient healthy and unhealthy foods in each country. Principles of content analysis were used to assess the reasons why these 15 items were listed as most salient by the participants. Results showed that both Brazilians and Germans listed mostly natural or minimally processed food (e.g. fruits, vegetables, grains, fish and milk) as healthy, whereas types of convenience and fast food, sweets and other ultra-processed foods (e.g. chocolate, soda, French fries, pizza and hamburger) were the most salient unhealthy items listed in both countries. Differences in culturally relevant items listed in each country are discussed. Further, in both countries, despite differences in their dietary guidelines, food healthiness judgements for the most salient items listed relied heavily on the nutritional content of food, reinforced the 'good/healthy' and 'bad/unhealthy' dichotomy, and were centred on benefits or harms to the body (e.g. prevention or cause of diseases and weight control). The similarity of food healthiness judgements between the two countries, together with their agreement with conventional health claims and dietary guidelines, suggest that lay Brazilian and German adults are knowledgeable about the general concepts of 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' food. Finally, these findings suggest that rather than just providing more nutritional information, policymakers and health professionals need to take into account the multiple psychosocial and environmental determinants of eating in these countries.
Subject(s)
Fast Foods , Judgment , Humans , Adult , Brazil , Fruit , VegetablesABSTRACT
Introdução: A maioria dos estudos em alimentação e nutrição ainda focam no consumo alimentar e atestam baixa aderência às recomendações oficiais. Menos estudos investigam como julgamentos e percepções de saudabilidade influenciam a alimentação; e estes quando realizados, geralmente envolvem amostras homogêneas e não costumam comparar países, o que limita compreensões socioculturais. Objetivos: Avaliar e comparar os julgamentos e percepções da saudabilidade de alimentos entre adultos leigos no Brasil (BR) e Alemanha (DE) (1) explorando os alimentos mais frequentemente listados como "saudáveis" e "não saudáveis" e as razões destes julgamentos; (2) avaliando se existem incongruências entre o julgamento de saudabilidade destes alimentos e a frequência de consumo dos mesmos, considerando características individuais dos participantes; e (3) examinando o efeito de quatro alegações (controle, foco em nutrientes, foco no processamento e indulgente) na percepção de saudabilidade de um alimento tipicamente considerado "não saudável", na capacidade percebida deste alimento afetar o peso, adequação deste alimento num dia alimentar saudável, sua estimativa calórica e desejo de comer. Métodos: Estudo online transversal com abordagem qualitativa, quantitativa e experimental. Foram utilizadas perguntas abertas e fechadas avaliando julgamentos e percepções da saudabilidade de alimentos, avaliação da frequência de consumo alimentar e questionário sociodemográfico. Análises incluíram Índice de Saliência de Smith, princípios de Análise de Conteúdo, cálculo de escores de incongruência entre julgamento de saudabilidade e frequência de consumo e Modelos Lineares Gerais (GLM) controlados por variáveis sociodemográficas e/ou nível de fome. Resultados: Sobre o objetivo 1, os participantes [BR n=205, DE n=150, média 40,3 (DP =13,3) anos] listaram principalmente alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados como saudáveis, enquanto alimentos do tipo fast food, doces e processados como não saudáveis. Alguns itens de cunho cultural também foram acentuados (ex.: arroz, feijão no BR vs. batata e pão na DE). Em ambos países, as principais razões dos julgamentos foram conteúdo nutricional dos alimentos, reforçando a dicotomia de "bom/saudável", "ruim/não saudável" e centraram-se nos benefícios ou malefícios ao corpo (ex.: prevenção ou causa de doenças, controle de peso). Quanto ao objetivo 2 [BR n=282, DE n=248, média 43,2 (D=14,3) anos], houve evidência de incongruência entre o julgamento de saudabilidade e a frequência de consumo alimentar, especialmente no BR (p = 0,01, d = 0,23). As principais características associadas às incongruências (ps < 0,048, η2ps > 0,01) foram gênero (ds > 0,27), idade (ßs > 0,14) e preocupação com saúde (ßs > 0,12). E sobre o objetivo 3 [BR n=291, DE n=343, média 42,8 (DP=14,6) anos], as alegações com foco em nutrientes e processamento tornaram as percepções do alimento como mais saudável em comparação às alegações controle e indulgente nos dois países (ps < 0,001, ω2s > 0,04), e não houve efeito das alegações sob o desejo de comer (p = 0,258, ω2 = 0,001). Os brasileiros, no entanto, foram mais afetados pelas alegações (ds > 0,55) e não houve indicação que a alegação com foco no processamento foi mais relevante para a amostra brasileira comparada a alegação com foco em nutrientes (ds > 0,10). Conclusão: Houveram mais semelhanças que diferenças entre países de contexto socioculturais diferentes. Os resultados sugerem uma perspectiva reducionista sobre saudabilidade, com acentuado foco nos nutrientes. Os julgamentos de saudabilidade, no entanto, não se traduzem em relato de consumo, evidenciando assim incongruências. Ainda, as alegações alimentares influenciaram de forma diferente as percepções sobre o mesmo alimento, mesmo este sendo tipicamente considerado não saudável.
Introduction: Most studies on food and nutrition still focus on food consumption and show low adherence to official recommendations. Fewer studies investigate how healthiness judgments and perceptions influence eating; and these, when carried out, usually involve homogeneous samples and do not usually compare countries, which limits sociocultural understandings. Objectives: To evaluate and compare food healthiness judgments and perceptions among lay adults in Brazil (BR) and Germany (DE) by (1) exploring the foods most frequently listed as "healthy" and "unhealthy" and the reasons for these judgments; (2) assessing whether there are inconsistencies between the healthiness judgment of these foods and the frequency of their consumption, considering individual characteristics of the participants; and (3) examining the effect of four claims (control, nutrients focus, food processing focus, and indulgent) on perceived healthiness of a food typically considered "unhealthy", on the perceived capacity of this food to affect weight, appropriateness of this food in a healthy day, its calorie estimation and desire to eat. Methods: Cross-sectional online study with a qualitative, quantitative and experimental approach. Open and closed ended questions were used to evaluate food health judgments and perceptions, assessment of frequency of food intake and sociodemographic questionnaire. Analyses included Smith's Salience Index, principles of Content Analysis, calculation of incongruence scores between judgments of healthiness and frequency of consumption, and General Linear Models (GLM) controlled for sociodemographic variables and/or level of hunger. Results: Regarding objective 1, participants [BR n=205, DE n=150, mean 40.3 (SD =13.3) years] listed mainly natural or minimally processed foods as healthy, and fast food, sweet and processed foods as unhealthy. Some culturally driven items were also accentuated (e.g., rice, beans in BR vs. potato and bread in DE). In both countries, the main reasons for the judgments were the nutritional content of foods, reinforcing the dichotomy of "good/healthy", "bad/unhealthy" and focused on the benefits or harm to the body (e.g. prevention or cause of diseases, weight control). As for objective 2 [BR n=282, DE n=248, mean 43.2 (SD=14.3) years], there was evidence of incongruence between healthiness judgment and frequency of food consumption, especially in BR (p = 0.01, d = 0.23). The main characteristics associated with incongruence (ps < 0.048, η2ps > 0.01) were gender (ds > 0.27), age (ßs > 0.14) and health concern (ßs > 0.12). And on objective 3 [BR n=291, DE n=343, mean 42.8 (SD=14.6) years], the claims highlighting nutrients or processing aspects rendered the perceptions of the food healthier compared to control and indulgent claims in both countries (ps < 0.001, ω2s > 0.04), and there was no effect of the claims on desire to eat (p = 0.258, ω2 = 0.001). Brazilians, however, were more affected by the claims (ds > 0.55) and there was no indication that the food processing-focused claim was more relevant for the Brazilian sample compared to the nutrient-focused claim (ds > 0.10). Conclusion: There were more similarities than differences between countries with different sociocultural backgrounds. The results suggest a reductionist perspective on food healthiness, with a strong focus on nutrients. Healthiness judgments, however, do not translate into consumption reports, thus showing incongruences. Furthermore, food claims influenced food related perceptions of the same food differently, even when the food is typically considered unhealthy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Perception , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Feeding Behavior , Diet, Healthy , JudgmentABSTRACT
In most Western countries, children and adolescents do not eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables (FVs). Theoretical frameworks on social psychology of eating, such as the Reason Action Approach, Social Cognitive Theory, and Theory of Normal Conduct have been applied to understand how psychosocial variables can explain FV intake. However, considering those predictors is still rare on the understanding of FV intake among adolescents (particularly in Brazil) despite its importance within eating behavior. Therefore, this study explored important psychosocial determinants of weekly frequency of FV intake among Brazilian adolescents in a model testing socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional design was performed with 429 students (58% female), mean age 14.45 (SD 1.86). Key variables of theoretical framework on social psychology of food were investigated by structural equation modeling. The model included self-efficacy, attitudes, and social norms (with its subcomponents descriptive and injunctive) as psychosocial predictors of weekly frequency of FV intake along with SES and BMI. An instrument developed for Brazilian Portuguese was used to collect psychosocial variables as well as to verify FV reported intake. The total model explained 45.5% of weekly frequency of FV intake, and self-efficacy was the only significant psychosocial determinant (λ = 0.51, p = 0.001). SES also showed an important effect on the model (λ = 0.21, p = 0.001), while for BMI no significance was observed. In conclusion, the model was adequate to understand psychosocial determinants of weekly frequency of FV intake for Brazilian adolescents, with self-efficacy and SES as the major determinants of this eating behavior.
ABSTRACT
Understanding the motives influencing food intake is indispensable for effective dietary recommendations aimed at promoting healthy eating in an integrative way. The objective of this study was to evaluate food choice motives across two socioeconomically different cities in Brazil. A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample (n = 473) of adults living in both places was evaluated. Food choice motives were assessed by The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) with 15 dimensions, and economic classifications were made according to the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria (CCEB). Data analysis used both a general linear model (GLM) and a Structural Equation Model (SEM) adjusted for age, ethnicity, income and educational degree. Participants were mainly women (74.6%) with a mean age of 36.6 years. Cities were not invariant (Δχ2 = 314.165, p < 0.001) and two distinct prediction models for food choice motives emerged. Fit indices indicate acceptable model fit for both low (CFI = 0.911; TLI = 0.898; RMSEA = 0.041) and high socioeconomic status groups (CFI = 0.808; TLI = 0.717; RMSEA = 0.081). Although cities differ in the prediction models for food choice motives, we demonstrated that there are two main networks of predictors: one related to social context predictors of food choice motives and another related to hedonic-oriented ones. Particularly, hedonic-oriented motives (i.e., pleasure) were the most relevant predictors to the group of high socioeconomic status followed by social context predictors (traditional eating and sociability). On the other hand, the group of low socioeconomic status had most of its predictors related to social context (i.e., visual appeal, traditional eating, sociability, social norms and social image) and also price, but this last one was the least important among the most important predictors.
Subject(s)
Food Preferences , Motivation , Adult , Brazil , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Social Class , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Brazil is undergoing a rapid nutrition transition with unfavorable effects on dietary healthiness. To counteract this trend, knowledge about individual drivers of consumption is needed that go beyond environmental factors. The Eating Motivation Survey represents a comprehensive measure of such individual drivers, assessing 15 eating motives, such as choosing food for health reasons or eating because of a good taste. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and validity of a Brazilian Portuguese version of The Eating Motivation Survey. In total, 442 participants from the general adult population living in the state of São Paulo, Brazil filled in an online survey. Results showed that the model, including 15 motive factors and 45 items, had a reasonable model fit. Moreover, factor loadings and corrected item-scale correlations were generally good. Fourteen out of the 15 motive scales had a reliability above 0.60. Results also confirmed convergent validity. These results demonstrate that the Brazilian Portuguese version of The Eating Motivation Survey is generally reliable and valid to assess individual drivers of eating behavior in Brazil.
ABSTRACT
Understanding why people eat what they eat is essential for developing nutritional guidelines capable of modifying inadequate and dysfunctional eating patterns. Such understanding can be assessed by specific instruments, amongst which The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) allows the identification of factors that determine motivations for eating and food choices. The aim of this study is to present the cross-cultural adaptation of the short version of TEMS for use in studies in the Brazilian population. The process involved conceptual and item equivalences; semantic equivalence by 2 translators, 1 linguist, 22 experts (frequency of response understanding), and 23 bilingual individuals (with response comparisons by the paired t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and intra-class correlation coefficient); and operational equivalence, performed with 32 individuals. The measurement equivalence corresponding to psychometric properties is under way. All equivalences showed satisfactory results for the scale's use in Brazil, thus allowing application of TEMS to assess motivations for eating choices in the Brazilian context.
Entender por que as pessoas comem o que comem é fundamental para desenvolver recomendações nutricionais que sejam capazes de modificar padrões alimentares inadequados e disfuncionais. Esse entendimento pode ser avaliado por meio de instrumentos - dentre os existentes nessa área, a The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) permite a identificação de fatores determinantes das motivações para comer e escolhas alimentares. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o processo de adaptação transcultural da versão reduzida da TEMS para aplicabilidade em estudos na população brasileira. O processo envolveu as equivalências conceitual e de itens; equivalência semântica por dois tradutores, uma linguista, 22 experts (frequência de resposta de compreensão) e 23 bilíngues (com comparações de resposta pelo teste t pareado, correlação de Pearson e coeficiente de correlação intraclasse); e a equivalência operacional que foi realizada com 32 indivíduos. A equivalência de mensuração, correspondente às propriedades psicométricas, está em andamento. Todas as equivalências realizadas mostraram resultados satisfatórios para o uso da escala no Brasil, o que permite a aplicação da TEMS para avaliação das motivações para escolhas alimentares em nosso contexto.
Entender por qué las personas comen lo que comen es fundamental para desarrollar recomendaciones nutricionales que sean capaces de modificar padrones alimentarios inadecuados y disfuncionales. Esta comprensión puede ser evaluada mediante instrumentos -entre los existentes en este área, se cuenta con la The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) que permite la identificación de los factores determinantes para conocer las motivaciones para comer y las preferencias alimentarias. El objetivo de este trabajo fue presentar el proceso de adaptación transcultural de la versión reducida de la TEMS para su aplicabilidad en estudios con población brasileña. El proceso involucró equivalencias conceptuales y de ítems; una equivalencia semántica por parte de 2 traductores, 1 lingüista, 22 expertos (frecuencia de respuesta de comprensión) y 23 bilingües (con comparaciones de respuesta mediante el test t pareado, correlación de Pearson y coeficiente de correlación intraclase); además de la equivalencia operacional que se realizó con 32 individuos. La equivalencia de medición correspondiente a las propiedades psicométricas ya está en proceso. Todas las equivalencias realizadas mostraron resultados satisfactorios para el uso de la escala en Brasil, lo que permite la aplicación de la TEMS para la evaluación de las motivaciones en las preferencias alimentarias en nuestro contexto.
Subject(s)
Cultural Characteristics , Feeding Behavior/physiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Brazil , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Semantics , Translations , Young AdultABSTRACT
Entender por que as pessoas comem o que comem é fundamental para desenvolver recomendações nutricionais que sejam capazes de modificar padrões alimentares inadequados e disfuncionais. Esse entendimento pode ser avaliado por meio de instrumentos - dentre os existentes nessa área, a The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) permite a identificação de fatores determinantes das motivações para comer e escolhas alimentares. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o processo de adaptação transcultural da versão reduzida da TEMS para aplicabilidade em estudos na população brasileira. O processo envolveu as equivalências conceitual e de itens; equivalência semântica por dois tradutores, uma linguista, 22 experts (frequência de resposta de compreensão) e 23 bilíngues (com comparações de resposta pelo teste t pareado, correlação de Pearson e coeficiente de correlação intraclasse); e a equivalência operacional que foi realizada com 32 indivíduos. A equivalência de mensuração, correspondente às propriedades psicométricas, está em andamento. Todas as equivalências realizadas mostraram resultados satisfatórios para o uso da escala no Brasil, o que permite a aplicação da TEMS para avaliação das motivações para escolhas alimentares em nosso contexto.
Understanding why people eat what they eat is essential for developing nutritional guidelines capable of modifying inadequate and dysfunctional eating patterns. Such understanding can be assessed by specific instruments, amongst which The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) allows the identification of factors that determine motivations for eating and food choices. The aim of this study is to present the cross-cultural adaptation of the short version of TEMS for use in studies in the Brazilian population. The process involved conceptual and item equivalences; semantic equivalence by 2 translators, 1 linguist, 22 experts (frequency of response understanding), and 23 bilingual individuals (with response comparisons by the paired t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and intra-class correlation coefficient); and operational equivalence, performed with 32 individuals. The measurement equivalence corresponding to psychometric properties is under way. All equivalences showed satisfactory results for the scale's use in Brazil, thus allowing application of TEMS to assess motivations for eating choices in the Brazilian context.
Entender por qué las personas comen lo que comen es fundamental para desarrollar recomendaciones nutricionales que sean capaces de modificar padrones alimentarios inadecuados y disfuncionales. Esta comprensión puede ser evaluada mediante instrumentos -entre los existentes en este área, se cuenta con la The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) que permite la identificación de los factores determinantes para conocer las motivaciones para comer y las preferencias alimentarias. El objetivo de este trabajo fue presentar el proceso de adaptación transcultural de la versión reducida de la TEMS para su aplicabilidad en estudios con población brasileña. El proceso involucró equivalencias conceptuales y de ítems; una equivalencia semántica por parte de 2 traductores, 1 lingüista, 22 expertos (frecuencia de respuesta de comprensión) y 23 bilingües (con comparaciones de respuesta mediante el test t pareado, correlación de Pearson y coeficiente de correlación intraclase); además de la equivalencia operacional que se realizó con 32 individuos. La equivalencia de medición correspondiente a las propiedades psicométricas ya está en proceso. Todas las equivalencias realizadas mostraron resultados satisfactorios para el uso de la escala en Brasil, lo que permite la aplicación de la TEMS para la evaluación de las motivaciones en las preferencias alimentarias en nuestro contexto.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Young Adult , Surveys and Questionnaires , Cultural Characteristics , Feeding Behavior/physiology , Semantics , Translations , Brazil , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Introdução: Os motivos para comer e para a escolha alimentar consideram vários atributos relacionados ao indivíduo, à comida e ao ambiente; ou seja, envolve fatores biológicos, fisiológicos, psicológicos, cognitivos, ideológicos, culturais e socioeconômicos (como renda, escolaridade e preço dos alimentos). As motivações para comer são, no entanto, pouco estudadas e não há no cenário nacional investigações sobre o tema, especialmente em contextos diferenciados. Objetivo: Avaliar as motivações para comer e para a escolha alimentar em dois contextos socioeconômicos díspares no Brasil e verificar associações entre esse constructo e o sexo, idade, estado nutricional, escolaridade, status socioeconômico, se tem filhos e hábito de cozinhar. Método: Estudo transversal, no qual usuários de ambos os sexos de duas Unidades de Saúde de São Caetano do Sul (São Paulo) e duas de São Luís (Maranhão) foram convidados a participar da pesquisa respondendo: questionário sociodemográfico; questionário de classificação econômica da Associação Brasileira de Empresas e Pesquisa (ABEP); e a The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS), escala que avalia as motivações para comer, adaptada transculturalmente (em etapa prévia) e validada para este estudo. Foram utilizados Testes de Qui-Quadrado de Pearson (X2) para comparar as frequências das variáveis sociodemográficas e econômicas e Análise de Correspondência para observação da distribuição das 15 dimensões da TEMS (Preferência, Hábitos, Necessidade e Fome, Saúde, Conveniência, Prazer, Alimentação Tradicional, Questões Naturais, Socialização, Preço, Atração Visual, Controle de Peso, Controle de Emoções, Normas Sociais e Imagem Social). As médias das dimensões da TEMS foram analisadas por meio de Testes t Independente e Modelos Lineares Generalizados (GLM) entre e dentre as cidades, considerando as variáveis sexo, idade, estado nutricional, escolaridade, status socioeconômico, se tinham filhos e se cozinhavam. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 473 indivíduos, que foram principalmente do sexo feminino (74,8 por cento de mulheres em São Luís e 74,5 por cento em São Caetano do Sul). A proporção de negros e mulatos foi maior em São Luís e a de brancos maior em São Caetano do Sul. São Luís teve maior proporção de adultos jovens (20-30 anos) ao passo que São Caetano do Sul teve maior frequência de pessoas na faixa dos 50 a 59 anos. Para a classificação do Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) ambas as cidades tiveram mais de 50 por cento dos indivíduos com IMC 25. Conforme o esperado, os indivíduos de São Luís tiveram menor grau de escolaridade (11,1 por cento com nível superior), de classificação socioeconômica (29,3 por cento entre as classes A-B2) e de renda mensal comparado aos de São Caetano do Sul (41,9 por cento com nível superior; 74,7 por cento entre as classes A-B2); e a distribuição de quem cozinha ou não e ter filhos foi semelhante nas duas cidades com mais pessoas que cozinhavam (74,4 por cento em São Luís e 76,2 por cento em São Caetano do Sul) e que tinham filhos (72,7 por cento em São Luís e 66,7 por cento em São Caetano do Sul). De modo geral, houve uma semelhança nas motivações para comer entre os dois contextos, sendo que nas duas cidades as pessoas comem o que comem principalmente devido à Preferência, Hábitos, Necessidade e Fome, e Saúde e dão menos importância na hora de suas escolhas alimentares para motivos como Controle de Emoções, Normas Sociais e Imagem Social. No entanto, diferenças foram encontradas ao analisar o maior efeito (cidade ou outras variáveis sociodemográficas e econômicas) e a variável cidade teve maior efeito no caso de São Luís escolhendo mais por Saúde (efeito só da cidade) e Questões Naturais (2=0,019), e os de São Caetano do Sul, Preço (2=0,014) e Atração Visual (2=0,009). Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo atestam a multifatoriedade das motivações para comer e escolhas alimentares, sobre os quais é possível concluir que mesmo em contextos socioeconômicos diferentes, outros fatores determinantes de escolha alimentar, que não necessariamente relacionados ao status socioeconômico, podem ser relevantes nas razões pelas quais as pessoas comem o que comem
Introduction: The reasons for eating and food choices depend on various attributes related to the individual, the food and the environment; that is, involve biological, physiological, psychological, cognitive, ideological, cultural and socioeconomic factors (such as income, education and food prices). However, the reasons to eat are poorly studied and there is no investigation in the Brazilian scenario, especially in different contexts. Objective: To evaluate the motivations for eating and food choices in two different socioeconomic contexts in Brazil and verify associations between these constructs and age, sex and nutritional status, schooling, socioeconomic status, presence of children and cooking habits. Method: A cross-sectional study, in which users of both sexes from two Health Units of São Caetano do Sul (São Paulo) and two from São Luís (Maranhão) were invited to participate in the survey: sociodemographic questionnaire; questionnaire of economic classification of the Associação Brasileira de Empresas e Pesquisa (ABEP); and The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS), a scale that evaluates the motivations to eat, transculturally adapted (in a previous step) and validated for this study. Pearson\'s Chi-Square Tests (X2) were used to compare the frequencies of sociodemographic and economic variables and Correspondence Analysis to observe the distribution of the 15 TEMS dimensions (Preference, Habits, Need and Hunger, Health, Convenience, Pleasure, Traditional Eating, Natural Concerns, Sociability, Price, Visual Appeal, Weight Control, Affect Regulation, Social Norms and Social Image). The TEMS dimension averages were analyzed using Independent t Tests and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) between and among cities, taking into account the variables sex, age, nutritional status, educational degree, socioeconomic status, presence of children and cooking habits. Results: The study involved 473 individuals, who were mainly female (74.8 per cent in São Luís and 74.5 per cent in São Caetano do Sul). The proportion of blacks and mulattoes was higher in São Luís and of whites in São Caetano do Sul. São Luís had a higher proportion of young adults (20-30 years) while São Caetano do Sul had a higher frequency of people in the range from 50 to 59 years. For the classification of Body Mass Index (BMI) both cities had more than 50 per cent of individuals with BMI 25. As expected, individuals from São Luís had lower educational level (11.1 per cent with higher education), socioeconomic status (29.3 per cent between classes A-B2) and monthly income compared to those from São Caetano do Sul (41.9 per cent with a higher level, 74.7 per cent between classes A-B2), and the distribution of those who cook and had children was similar in both cities with more people cooking (74.4 per cent in Sao Luís and 76.2 per cent in São Caetano do Sul) and having children (72.7 per cent in São Luís and 66.7 per cent in São Caetano do Sul). In general, there was a similarity in the motivations to eat between the two contexts. In both cities, people eat what they eat mainly because of Preference, Habits, Need and Hunger, and Health, and they give less importance at the time of their food choices to reasons such as Emotion Control, Social Norms and Social Image. However, differences were found when analyzing the greatest effect (city or other sociodemographic and economic variables) and the city variable had a greater effect in the case of São Luís choosing more due Health (city only effect) and Natural Issues (2 = 0.019), and São Caetano do Sul, Price (2 = 0,014) and Visual Attraction l (2 = 0.009). Conclusion: The results of this study attest the multifactorial motivation to eat and food choices, on which it is possible to conclude that even in different socioeconomic contexts, other determinants of food choices, not necessarily related to socioeconomic status, may be relevant in the reason by which people eat what they eat
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Choice Behavior , Diet , Motivation , Socioeconomic Survey , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the dietary habits of freshman and senior female students in Nutrition at three institutions in the state of Maranhão. METHODS: The study included 254 students. Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index, using self-reported weight and height. Dietary intake was assessed by questionnaire "How is your food intake?" and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) by the Ministry of Health. Analyses were processed using Stata 10.0 software, using the Shapiro Wilk test, Student t test,chi- square and exact Fischer. The adopted significance level was 5%. RESULTS: The group average age was 21 years old, and it was mostly eutrophic (65.8%), with no difference between students of the first and last year (p=0.556). The most skipped meal was breakfast (16.5%), especially among the first academic year (p=0.017). The group was classified as follows: 5.1% need to make their eating habits and lifestyles healthier,73.6% need attention regarding their food intake and other associated health habits and21.3% have a healthy lifestyle. The academic graduates proved healthier than freshmen (p=0.020). The daily consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy products was reported by only 22.4%, 44.1% and 40.2% of them, and those of the previous year showed higher proportions (p value: 0.001, 0.005, and 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Few academic students showed nutrition showed with healthy
OBJETIVO: Avaliar os hábitos alimentares de acadêmicas do primeiro e último ano do curso de graduação em Nutrição em três instituições do estado do Maranhão, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 254 estudantes. O estado nutricional foi avaliado pelo Índice de Massa Corpórea, usando-se peso e estatura autorreferidos. Os hábitos alimentares foram avaliados pelo questionário "Como está sua alimentação?" e Questionário de Frequência Alimentar do Ministério da Saúde. As análises foram processadas no programa Stata 10.0, usando-se os testes Shapiro Wilk, t de Student, Qui-quadrado e exato de Fischer. Adotou-se o nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: O grupo apresentou idade mediana de 21 anos, e era em sua maioria eutrófica (65,8%), sem diferença entre alunas do primeiro e último ano (p=0,556). A refeição mais omitida foi o desjejum (16,5%), especialmente entre as acadêmicas do primeiro ano (p=0,017). O grupo foi assim classificado: 5,1% precisam tornar sua alimentação e hábitos de vida mais saudáveis, 73,6% precisam de atenção quanto a sua alimentação e outros hábitos associados à saúde e 21,3% apresentam estilo de vida saudável. A avaliação pelo questionário 'como está sua alimentação?' apontou para uma situação mais favorável entre as alunas do último ano (p=0,020). O consumo diário de frutas, hortaliças e laticínios foi relatado por apenas 22,4%, 44,1% e 40,2% delas, respectivamente, sendo que aquelas do último ano apresentaram maiores proporções (p valor: 0,001; 0,005; e 0,020, respectivamente). CONCLUSÕES: Foi baixa a frequência de acadêmicas de Nutrição que apresentaram hábitos alimentares e estilo de vida saudáveis, sendo a situação ainda pior entre as alunas ingressantes
