Impacto de ações educativas no estado nutricional de crianças

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate a proposal of educational intervention in food and nutrition carried out in a school of a municipality in the West of Paraná. Materials and methods: anthropometric evaluation together with the application of two questionnaires, one on food consumption from the previous day and another on the frequency of food consumption based on the Ten steps to healthy eating. The anthropometry and the evaluation of food consumption were performed in two moments: before and after educational intervention, carried out through five workshops on food and nutrition. Results: it was observed in both moments the prevalence of eutrophy (60,5%), consumption of in natura or minimally processed in large and small meals (47,25%), most made 4 to 6 meals a day, consumed fruits 3 to 5 times a day, vegetables 1 to 2 times a day. Sugary drinks were consumed less than 2 times a week and consumption of candy was rare. Ingestion of water was 4 to 6 glasses, most practiced physical activity and a minority added salt to food prepared. The results showed no statistically significant changes before and after educational interventions, and it may be that the short time of activities may have contributed to this result. Conclusion: The use of educational interventions are important tools for better understanding of schoolchildren about food and nutrition, and may increase the intake of healthy foods and thus improve the quality of food as well as the health of the population school. However, this should be done more effectively, with more time devoted to the topic and, above all, that it be included not only in certain moments, but as part of the school curriculum.