Perfil de pacientes bariátricos e intenção de compra de refeições prontas congeladas

Abstract

Obesity, characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat due to the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. In severe cases leads to bariatric surgery, a procedure that has grown in Brazil. Bariatric patients face challenges in post-surgery nutrition, with varied food intolerances. The increase in consumption of food outside the home and the lack of specific options point to the need in the market for ready-to-eat frozen meals suitable for this audience, which can improve adherence to the post-surgical diet, contributing to the provision of good food choices and weight maintenance and, consequently, quality of life. The study aimed to evaluate the consumption profile of post-bariatric surgery patients and their intention to purchase and consume ready-to-eat frozen meals suited to their needs. An exploratory descriptive research was carried out with 438 Brazilian bariatric patients, using a questionnaire applied between 2022 and 2023 with questions that covered: demographic and socioeconomic data, clinical data, eating habits after surgery, behavioral data and quality of life, and consumption of frozen ready meals. The demographic-socioeconomic profile revealed geographic diversity and a predominance of females, aged between 35 and 44 years old, complete higher education, and income in the range of R$3 to R$7 thousand. The prevalence of bariatric surgery using the Bypass method was identified, with an average weight loss of 37.83 kg and an average weight gain of 10.8 kg. Approximately 67% had the surgery less than 4 years ago, and among those with more than 4 years of surgery, 72% had weight regain; with 93% expressing fear of this recurrence. A significant association was found between weight regain and socioeconomic factors and eating and behavioral habits, such as income, frequency of daily meals, consumption of high-calorie foods, eating away from home, preference for fast food, consumption of sweets, practice of "snacking" between meals and difficulties in eating. The main limitations after surgery are the lack of psychological (54.2%) and nutritional support (33%), and lack of physical activity (54.25%). Bariatric patients (89.4%) have difficulty finding ready-to-eat frozen meals specific to their needs, but expressed willingness to purchase them if they were available, priced between R$10 and R$15; and pointed out the diversity of flavors of lunchboxes as the most relevant element, followed by price, shelf life, portion size, heating method and type of packaging. They believe that this type of product could simplify adherence to the diet, overcoming one of the main barriers, which is adaptation. It is concluded that frozen ready meals aimed at bariatric patients prove to be a viable solution to improve quality of life, reduce eating challenges and contribute to longer-lasting results.