Influências da família e da escola no consumo de alimentos com alto teor de açúcar, gordura e sódio entre crianças de classes sociais diferentes

• Ano de defesa: 2013
• Autor(a) principal: Vieira, Denise Maria
• Orientador(a): Bartolomeu, Tereza Angélica
• Banca de defesa: Silva, Neuza Maria da , Araújo, Raquel Maria Amaral
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Viçosa
• Programa de Pós-Graduação: Mestrado em Economia Doméstica
• Departamento: Economia familiar; Estudo da família; Teoria econômica e Educação do consumidor
• País: BR
• Palavras-chave em Português: Crianças - Nutrição; Alimentos - Consumo; Hábitos alimentares
• Palavras-chave em Inglês: Children - Nutrition; Food - Consumption; Eating habits
• Área do conhecimento CNPq: CNPQ::CIENCIAS SOCIAIS APLICADAS::ECONOMIA DOMESTICA
• Link de acesso: http://locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/3400

Several studies point out the consumption of foods which are high in sugar, fat and sodium as a major cause of the increase of Chronic Non-Contagious Diseases in Brazil. Some actions have been taken in the country to change this situation, using educational programs and nutritional intervention. However, the consumption of ultra-processed foods which are high in sugar, fat and sodium is growing every day and, consequently, the number of diseases related to their consumption is increasing as well. According to Ministério da Saúde, 260,000 deaths could be prevented annually if the population s food intake were adequate. Thus, actions to promote healthier eating habits are becoming increasingly urgent. Those actions should be promoted and encouraged since childhood. Besides, family and school play fundamental roles in this process. In this way, this study aimed to verify the influence of family and school on the consumption of foods which are high in sugar, fat and sodium by children from 7 to 9 years of age. The subjects were 45 children, 25 of them were enrolled in a public school and 20 in a private school, both in the city of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mothers of 28 of those students were also investigated. 13 of them had children attending the public school and 15 had children in the private school. The participants of the public school were called Group A (GA), and the participants from the private school were called Group B (GB). To obtain the data from the children, it was used the technique of focal group and observation, in order to evaluate their preferences, eating habits and perception about the food they eat between the main meals. As for the mothers, the data were obtained through questionnaires and in meetings. It was found that the groups differed according to socioeconomic level, mothers degree of education, number of children they had, mean age of mothers and their occupation. Through focal group workshops, it was found that although children belonged to groups with different characteristics, they had similar tastes, preferring food with a high content of sugar, fat and sodium. Similarities in their perception about foods which are good or bad for their health were also found between the two groups. Children referred to food such as candies, lollipops, soda, sandwich cookies and chips as the ones that are bad for their health, and foods such as fruits, vegetables and greens as good for their health. Children in the GA reported consuming more foods of their choices, while the children of GB said they consume foods of their choices with the lowest frequency. A survey was carried out with the mothers involving 17 varieties of foods (high in sugar, fat and sodium) consumed by their children for the past six months. It was also evaluated how much the mothers were efficient in following a diet with reduced fat, sugar and sodium. Among the children of the GA, the frequency of consumption of those foods was higher compared to the GB. Although children of both groups share similar preferences and perceptions regarding foods which are high in sugar, fat and sodium, eating habits varied according to socioeconomic level, mother s level of education and mothers self-efficacy to follow a diet with reduced sugar, fat and sodium. The results showed that children in GA belonged to economical classes C and D were born to mothers with low education level and low self-efficacy in reducing the consumption of foods high in sugar, fat and sodium. These children had large access to those foods at home and at school and shared great autonomy related to their consumption. Children of GB belonged to economical classes A and B and were born to mothers with higher education and higher self-efficacy in reducing the consumption of foods with a high level of sugar, fat and sodium. Children in this group had less access to that kind of food in the family and in school environment and less autonomy for their consumption. This study confirms the need for nutritional education interventions among mothers to increase their self-efficacy in order to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods, since the results showed a relationship between mothers' self-efficacy and greater or lower level of consumption of those foods by children. Family and school must share the same ideals in relation to children nutritional education. For this, it is essential to develop a partnership between them.