Hábitos de leitura de rótulos de alimentos e fatores associados entre idosos ativos

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the factors associated with the habit of reading food labels among elderly participants in seniors community groups in Governador Valadares, MG. Methods We interviewed 141 elderly people from three seniors community groups in the city, about their socioeconomic profile, health and eating habits. The reading of labels was evaluated through the question: "Do you check the food label before your purchase or consumption?", And checked the items evaluated in case of a positive response. A food frequency questionnaire was applied, with weekly consumption being classified into scores ranging from zero (non-consumption) to seven (daily consumption). Anthropometric evaluation was based on further calculation and classification of body mass index. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with the habit of reading labels, selecting in the initial model variables with a significance level lower than 0.20 and maintaining in the final logistic model those with an association adjusted at a level lower than 0.05. Results The habit of reading labels was reported by 72.3% of the interviewees, who verified predominantly shelf life (90.2%), fat (18.4%) and sodium (16.7%). The same was independently associated with the lower median consumption of medicines, lower per capita family consumption of sugar and higher frequency of weekly consumption of whole grains. Conclusion The habit of reading food labels was associated with better health conditions and healthier eating behaviors among active elderly, and should be considered as an important nutritional intervention strategy in this age group.