Avaliação e educação nutricional dos idosos do Centro de Convivência da zona leste de Londrina

Abstract

The increase in life expectancy has grown so that most of the current population will reach old age due to technological advances and improved living conditions. The aging process brings many physiological changes that compromise nutritional status increases the risk for developing chronic diseases. The eating habits of groups of elderly Brazilian consumers with higher levels of education and access to information present the relationship between healthy eating habits and disease prevention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of 20 elderly Living Center of Eastern Zone of Londrina, as well as apply a nutrition education program based on the guidelines of the ten steps to a healthy diet proposed by the Ministry of Health. To this end, the elderly were weighed and measured at the first meeting, in addition to evaluation of eating habits. After five meetings were held with proposals for nutrition education, and finally, again the elderly were assessed to determine whether there were changes in weight and eating habits. For assessment of nutritional status used the body mass index. For assessment of dietary habits, we used a questionnaire to assess diet. The majority (88%) of the elderly had high or very high risk of cardiovascular disease, 60% of them were overweight, 75% of seniors reported being carriers of pathology, which are represented by hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol or high triglycerides. Nearly all seniors (95%) carry out any physical activity. After the nutrition education, there was no significant difference (p>5%) change in weight and waist circumference of 11 subjects who participated in the project from start to finish. Regarding eating habits was observed that there was an increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables daily, given this considered positive. However, the consumption of dairy products has declined. Although there was no effective change in weight and waist circumference of the elderly, there was improvement in food consumption, but there is still that encourage consumption of dairy products in this population and discouraging them in sugar consumption. It is believed that this type of program should be done continuously, since nutritional education should be constant as a horizontal base for improvement of health, consequently, of the quality of life of the elderly.