Avaliação do comportamento alimentar e de fatores associados em pessoas com diabetes mellitus e/ou hipertensão

Abstract

Noncommunicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity account for the majority of global mortalities. However, these health conditions and their adverse effects can be prevented by adopting healthier modifiable lifestyle factors, including the cultivation of healthy eating habits. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the eating behavior and dietary practices among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension, along with their associations with sociodemographic and anthropometric variables. This cross-sectional study included Brazilian adults and older individuals previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and/or hypertension. Participants were selected from outpatient nutrition clinics at the Diabetes and Hypertension Center of the Federal University of Pelotas. Eating behavior was assessed with the Three-factor Eating Questionnaire-R21 (TFEQ-R21), whereas dietary practices were evaluated through the scale of adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population (DGBP). Weight, height, and body fat percentage (BF) were measured to assess nutritional status. Data regarding sex, age, education, and marital status were also collected. Poisson regression was used to examine the associations between eating behaviors, dietary practices, and sociodemographic data. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the associations between eating behavior and dietary practices, and body mass index (BMI) and BF of individuals. A significance level of 5% was considered for all analyses. A total of 275 volunteers participated in the study, the majority were female and under 60 years of age. Male and older participants had a lower probability of obtaining high scores in the 'emotional eating' (EE) and 'uncontrolled eating' (UE) domains. In contrast, older patients had a higher probability of adhering to the DGBP recommendations. A positive association was observed between BMI and high EE and UE scores, whereas higher dietary practice scores were negatively associated with BMI. High EE and UE scores were positively associated with BF regardless of the confounding factors included in the analysis. In contrast, higher scores on the dietary practices recommended by the DGBP were inversely associated with BF. Male individuals and those aged > 60 years had a lower prevalence of high EE and UE scores. Older individuals also had higher adherence to DGBP dietary practices. High EE and UE scores were positively correlated with BMI and BF. Dietary practices were inversely associated with BMI and BF. Understanding how psychological, social, and cultural factors influence behavior and eating practices can contribute to a more comprehensive and effective treatment approach for long-term behavioral changes.