Representações sociais da alimentação saudável de adolescentes de escolas públicas paraibanas: um estudo comparativo.

Abstract

The nutritional transition process, which is characterized by changes in eating patterns, it is becoming increasingly evident. ln this context, is the adolescent phase that deserves special attention, especially with regard to three important factors: nutrition, media and the school environment. Thereby, the said research bad. as general objective understand the social representations about the feeding of teenagers from two cities in Paraíba. For this, was developed a qualitative descriptive study with semi-structured questionnaire open type.Participated in the research 50 adolescents between 15 and 17 years old,from two public schools, in the cities of Pocinhos and Campina Grande. both of Paraíba.ln this sense, it could be observed that teenagers have elaborate representations about healthy eating,however not put into practice by various barriers, whether the flavors of healthy foods or the temptations of food considered by them as "crap", which can be evidenced through the analysis of daily food consumption, described by them in one of the questions.Furthermore, it was observed that the participants showed a self-critical view when evaluating their daily feed as not healthy.As well, it was verified that tbe principal means o f communication where teenagers get knowledge about healthy eating are the TV and intemet.Ftom the foregoing, observes the importance of educational actions about healthy eating that go beyond the information,which is part of a large network that includes lived experiences and aspirations of future changes.Therefore, it is necessary to provide means to supply security for adolescents adopt healthy eating.With regard to the size of cities, large differences were not found,therefore show similar representations.