Development and pretesting of a food frequency questionnaire for undergraduate students

Objetivo: Desenvolver e aplicar em um projeto-piloto um questionário de frequência alimentar quantitativo de autopreenchimento destinado a graduandos da área da saúde. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado em 151 universitários de ambos os sexos, usuários do ambulatório de Nutrição do Corpo Discente da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brasil. O questionário inicial foi composto a partir dos alimentos e preparações informados no Registro Alimentar de Três Dias. As informações em medidas caseiras foram transformadas em gramas ou mililitros com o auxílio de tabelas, e os alimentos foram ordenados segundo a porcentagem de contribuição para o valor energético total informado. Foram selecionados 198 alimentos responsáveis por 95% do consumo energético e agrupados em 77 itens alimentares de acordo com a similaridade nutricional. O tamanho das porções alimentares foi classificado conforme o valor do percentil 50 da distribuição dos pesos correspondentes às medidas caseiras referidas. Definiu-se como porção pequena, aquela cujo valor foi igual ou inferior ao percentil 25; como média, o percentil 50 e grande, o valor igual ou superior ao percentil 75. Resultados: Após o pré-teste do questionário inicial, o questionário final resultou em uma lista com 89 alimentos, agrupados em 70 itens alimentares. As instruções para o autopreenchimento foram refeitas, objetivando-se um melhor preenchimento. Conclusão: Após as modificações realizadas, o questionário de frequência alimentar quantitativo encontra-se pronto para o estudo de validação e calibração. Termos de indexação: Consumo alimentar. Inquéritos nutricionais. Questionário de frequência alimentar. Universitários. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of this study was to develop and pretest a self-administered, quantitative food frequency questionnaire for undergraduate students of the health sciences. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 151 undergraduate students of both genders from the Students’ Healthcare Service of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. The first version of the food frequency questionnaire was based on the foods and preparations listed in the 3-day food records. Tables were used to convert cooking units into grams or milliliters and the foods were ranked according to their percentage contribution to the total calorie intake. The 198 foods responsible for 95% of the energy intake were selected and grouped into 77 food items according to nutritional resemblance. Serving size was classified according to the 50th percentile of the weight distribution corresponding to the cooking units. Serving size was defined as small (S) when ≤25th percentile; average (A) when equal to the 50th percentile and large (L) when ≥75th percentile. Results: The pretest of the first version of the questionnaire resulted in a final version with a list of 89 foods, grouped into 70 food groups. The instructions for filling out the questionnaire were rewritten to get better answers from the students. Conclusion: After these changes, the quantitative food frequency questionnaire is ready for the validation and calibration study

Validação de um questionário quantitativo de frequência alimentar desenvolvido para universitários

Validou-se um Questionário Quantitativo de Frequência Alimentar em 50 graduandos em Saúde de São Paulo, Brasil. Considerou-se o registro alimentar de 3 dias como referência e variáveis energia, macronutrientes e fibras alimentares. A concordância entre o Questionário Quantitativo de Frequência Alimentar e a média dos registros alimentares de 3 dias foi avaliada pela estatística kappa, pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC) e percentual de concordância. Os limites de concordância foram examinados pelos gráficos de Bland-Altman. Melhores valores de coeficiente de correlação intraclasse foram encontrados para calorias (ICC 0,43; IC95% 0,17 – 0,63) e para nutrientes não ajustados por calorias, com exceção das fibras (ICC 0,34; IC95% 0,07 – 0,56). O percentual de concordância mostrou uma minoria classificada em terços opostos (16%) e aproximadamente metade classificada no mesmo terço (49.8%). Houve tendência à superestimação nos dados do Questionário Quantitativo de Frequência Alimentar para calorias e nutrientes, exceto gorduras. Recomenda-se a utilização deste instrumento em população universitária em estudos que visem à estimativa de calorias, bem como à classificação dos indivíduos em categorias de consumo.A validity test of a Food Frequency Questionnaire was carried out using 50 students of health occupation in São Paulo, Brazil. Therefore, a three day dietary record was used as reference method and variables such as energy, macronutrients and dietary fiber were analyzed. The accordance between the Food Frequency Questionnaire and average data from dietary record was tested with kappa statistics and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Limits of agreement were estimated by the Bland-Altman's method. Better results were found for calories (ICC 0.43; 95%CI 0.17 - 0.63) and non-energy-adjusted nutrients, except dietary fiber (ICC 0.34; 95%CI 0.07 - 0.56). The percentage of individuals classified in the same category of consumption was nearly half (49.8%), while only 16% of them were classified in opposite categories. With the exception of lipids, other analyzed variables tended to be overestimated by the Food Frequency Questionnaire. The Food Frequency Questionnaire is recommended as a method of assessing food intake of university students in studies which focuson calorie estimates and also intend to classify groups into intake categories

Influência da orientação nutricional nas práticas de alimentação complementar em lactentes

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional guidance to lactating infants undergoing the phase of complementary feeding introduction and to verify the association of food practices with age and maternal education. It is a descriptive historical cohort study in which secondary data were evaluated from 92 lactating infants who had at least 3 nutritional counselings at the "Center for Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding" from the Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), between October 2005 and March 2010. The information of food consumption was obtained from 24 hours food records which were qualitatively analyzed according to the presence of food groups (cereals/tubers, beef/egg, legumes, fruits/vegetables). The nutritional guidance for the introduction of the complementary food was based on the 10 Steps of a Healthy Diet for Brazilian Children under 2 years of age from the Health Ministry. For the Block Non-parametric Variance Analyses children were separated in 2 groups (Lac A = those who were already on a supplementary feeding; Lac B = those who were not on a supplementary feeding). The means and standard deviations of the number of food groups consumed at moments 0,1 and 2 for Lac A were 2.3 (SD = 0.8); 2.9 (SD = 0.8) and 3.2 (SD = 0.6), respectively. For Lac B at times 1 and 2 were 2.6 (SD = 0.9) and 3.1 (SD = 0.7), respectively. There was a statistic increase of the food groups with time for Lac A (moments 0 - 1 (p = 0.001), 0 - 2 (p < 0.001), 1 - 2 (p = 0.033)) and Lac B (moments 1 - 2 (p < 0.001)). Among the inadequate offered foods, those which had reduction were sugar (from 22.2% to 8.7%) and "petit suisse" cheese (from 11.1% to 4.3%). No relation between the presence of food groups and age and maternal education was observed. The nutritional orientation over time was effective what resulted in a better quality of the complementary feeding, independent of age and maternal education.Avaliar a efetividade da orientação nutricional de lactentes em fase de introdução da alimentação complementar e verificar a associação das práticas alimentares com idade e escolaridade materna. Estudo de coorte histórica descritiva, avaliando-se dados secundários de 92 lactentes que realizaram pelo menos três consultas nutricionais, atendidos no Centro de Incentivo e Apoio ao Aleitamento Materno da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, no período de outubro de 2005 a março de 2010. As informações de consumo alimentar foram obtidas a partir dos Recordatórios Alimentares de 24 horas, analisados qualitativamente segundo a presença dos grupos alimentares (cereais/tubérculos, carnes/ovos, leguminosas, frutas/legumes/verduras). A orientação nutricional para a introdução da alimentação complementar foi baseada nos Dez Passos da Alimentação Saudável para Crianças Brasileiras Menores de Dois Anos, do Ministério da Saúde. Para a análise de variância em blocos não paramétrica separaram-se as crianças em dois grupos (grupo Lac A= que já recebiam alimentação complementar e grupo Lac B = que ainda não recebiam alimentação complementar). As médias e desvios-padrão do número de grupos alimentares consumidos nos momentos 0, 1 e 2 para o Lac A foram 2,3 (dp = 0,8), 2,9 (dp = 0,8) e 3,2 (dp = 0,6), respectivamente, enquanto que para o Lac B nos momentos 1 e 2 foram 2,6 (dp = 0,9) e 3,1 (dp = 0,7), respectivamente. Estatisticamente houve um aumento significativo dos grupos alimentares com o tempo para o Lac A (momentos 0 - 1 (p = 0,001), 0 - 2 (

Relationship between social and personal variables, body image, and wellbeing at work of nutritionists

The objective of this study was to investigate wellbeing in a random sample of nutritionists, using body image, and social and personal variables as causal factors, in an exploratory, crosssectional study. Statistical treatments included descriptive analyses, t-tests, ANOVAs, and linear regressions. The 242 participants perceived themselves frequently in a wellbeing state at work (M=3.8); 25.6% of participants presented a mildly distorted body image, 14.5% a moderately distorted body image, and 7.5% a severely distorted body image. Social and personal variables, such as having children and the level of personal income, were associated with wellbeing. Body image had a significant negative impact of 3.2 % on wellbeing

Validation of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire developed to under graduate students

A validity test of a Food Frequency Questionnaire was carried out using 50 students of health occupation in S&#227;o Paulo, Brazil. Therefore, a three day dietary record was used as reference method and variables such as energy, macronutrients and dietary fiber were analyzed. The accordance between the Food Frequency Questionnaire and average data from dietary record was tested with kappa statistics and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Limits of agreement were estimated by the Bland-Altman's method. Better results were found for calories (ICC 0.43; 95%CI 0.17 - 0.63) and non-energy-adjusted nutrients, except dietary fiber (ICC 0.34; 95%CI 0.07 - 0.56). The percentage of individuals classified in the same category of consumption was nearly half (49.8%), while only 16% of them were classified in opposite categories. With the exception of lipids, other analyzed variables tended to be overestimated by the Food Frequency Questionnaire. The Food Frequency Questionnaire is recommended as a method of assessing food intake of university students in studies which focuson calorie estimates and also intend to classify groups into intake categories

Perfil lipídico y factores de riesgo cardiovascular en estudiantes universitarios brasileños de primer año de Sao Paulo

Background/aims: the surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors has been recommended worldwide. the current study is aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among first-year students from a public university in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 56 first-year students, of both genders, was performed. Information about demographic characteristics, family history of chronic diseases, smoking, and physical activity was obtained by means of a standardised questionnaire. Anthropometrical parameters (BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage), metabolic parameters (glycaemia, serum lipid profile), and dietary data (total energy intake, percentage of total energy from macronutrients, cholesterol and dietary fiber) were assessed.Results: the risk of cardiovascular diseases was characterised by family history of cardiovascular diseases (44.6%), smoking (10.7%), physical inactivity (35.7%), borderline high total cholesterol and LDL-c levels (16.1% and 5.4, respectively), decreased HDL-c levels (8.9%), increased triglyceride levels (8.9%), and overweight and obesity (17.8% and 7.1%, respectively). the diet of the students was inadequate: it was high in fat and protein, and low in carbohydrate and dietary fibre.Conclusions: the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in young adults draws attention to the need to adopt preventive plans in the university setting

Comparação entre as curvas de crescimento do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention e da Organização Mundial da Saúde para lactentes com idade de seis a 12 meses Comparison between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization growth curves for six to 12 months old infants

OBJETIVO: Comparar o estado nutricional de lactentes de ambos os sexos de acordo com a curva proposta pelo Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-2000) e com a nova curva de crescimento proposta pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS-2006). MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal no qual foram acompanhadas crianças de ambos os sexos, nascidas a termo, com idade entre seis meses e um ano, em aleitamento materno predominante ou exclusivo. Os dados foram coletados por um único pesquisador por meio de ficha de atendimento nutricional composta por dados demográficos, antropométricos e sobre a alimentação da criança. Foram realizados testes de Wilcoxon e Friedman para comparar cada medida das curvas e analisar a variância, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: Da amostra final de 55 crianças, 51% (n=28) eram do sexo masculino. Os percentuais de eutrofia dos índices de peso por idade e de estatura adequada para idade de ambos os sexos apresentaram-se acima de 80%. Não houve diferença significante na classificação do estado nutricional, segundo as curvas utilizadas. A porcentagem de concordância das duas curvas em relação ao peso e à estatura foi de 98,2 e 96,4%, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: As curvas de crescimento da OMS-2006 e do CDC-2000 foram similares para classificar o estado nutricional de lactentes entre 6-12 meses em aleitamento materno.<br>OBJECTIVE: Compare the nutritional status of male and female infants classified according to the growth curve proposed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-2000) and the new growth curve proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO-2006). METHODS: This longitudinal study enrolled children of 6-12 months old of both genders. They were born at term and exclusively or predominantly breastfed. A single researcher collected demographic, anthropometric and nutritional data. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare curves and the Friedman test was used to analyze the variance. RESULTS: Among the 55 followed children, 51% (n=28) were males. The percentages of normal weight-for-age and proper height-for-age in both genders were above 80%. The nutritional status classification according to both growth curves was similar. Agreement between the two curves regarding weight and height was 98.2 and 96.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CDC-2000 and WHO-2006 growth curves were similar regarding nutritional status classification of 6-12 months old breastfeed infants