Nutritional status, lifestyle, socioeconomic profile and food consumption of commercial workers

Abstract

Objective: Characterize the nutritional status, lifestyle, socioeconomic profile and food consumption of commercial workers customers of a social restaurant in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. Methods: The convenience sample consisted of 156 individuals, 71 (45.5%) men and 85 (54.5%) women, aged between 19 and 59 years. The variables analyzed were: weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, history of chronic diseases, alcoholism, smoking and physical activity, family income, education and food intake of a subsample. The adequacy of consumption was assessed by observing the recommendations of the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and nutritional requirements of the Workers’ Food Program. Results: We observed high prevalence of overweight 49 (31.4%) and obesity 18 (11.5%), high rate of physical inactivity 109 (69.9%). Alcohol is often consumed weekly by 27 (17.4%). 111 (71.2%) of individuals studied until high school; and 104 (66.7%) belonged to socioeconomic class C. 136 (87,2%) showed no personal history of chronic diseases, or practice of smoking. Dietary intake adequacy revealed adequacy for macronutrients, fiber, saturated fats and micronutrients, with excessive sodium intake. Conclusion: Nutritional status was characterized as high prevalence of overweight and obesity, associated with a high abdominal adiposity, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption and socioeconomic profile predominantly C1 and C2. Although the present study shows an adequate intake of micronutrients and macronutrients, there are excessive caloric intake, based on profile of physical inactivity and overweight.