Nível de processamento de alimentos e qualidade da dieta de adultos e idosos: uma proposta de avaliação

Abstract

Objective: To propose a diet quality evaluation protocol according to food processing level and to test its applicability in an adult and elderly population. Methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted with 186 users (≥ 40 years) of the Family Health Strategy of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, through structured interview, classification of body mass index and application of a 24-hour recall. The data were tabulated with double entry and analyzed using dietary and statistical assessment software and their results presented in a descriptive manner. Results: Based on a national population-based study, a protocol for assessing the quality of the diet was prepared, which consists of: 1) apply the 24-hour recall; 2) assess caloric intake; 3) classify food according to the type of processing; 4) check the proportion of calories from each type of processing; 5) score food consumption according to the level of processing and 6) add to obtain the score. It was verified through the protocol that 28.0% of the interviewees had a poor classification of the quality of the diet, 66.1% as reasonable and only 5.9% had an excellent quality of the diet. Conclusion: The protocol was able to evaluate and classify the quality of the diet and its application detected important inadequacies in the evaluated population, with inadequate consumption of the proportion of fresh or minimally processed, processed and ultra-processed foods.