Universo acadêmico: uma avaliação antropométrica do estado nutricional e caracterização do hábito alimentar de universitários do Centro de Educação e Saúde da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, campus Cuité / Paraíba.

Abstract

Understanding the factors that influence the eating habits of certain groups in society is important for the adoption of measures that can help to reduce nutritional deficiencies. In this context, students are an important group of study in relation to your eating habits in order that entry into the university implies several changes in lifestyle and consequently food choices. Given this, this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status according anthropometric measurements and characterize the eating habits of college students health area courses of the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), campus Cuité / PB. This is a scientific research descriptive, cross-sectional, with field research procedure, quantitative and qualitative approach. Could participate in this study, students enrolled in courses Nutrition, Nursing and Pharmacy who were attending at least the 2nd period of each course to the period where finalize their theoretical activities on campus. Were estimated to participate, approximately 20% of the total number of students belonging to each course, reaching the number of 136 students participated in the research. A structured questionnaire with objective and subjective questions and performed an anthropometric evaluation with test weight, height, skinfold thickness and body circumferences of college was applied. Regarding the assessment of body mass index (BMI) observed a percentage of 62.5% of normal weight, 96.3% did not present risk by waist-hip ratio (WHR) and 64.7% had fat percentage (% G) appropriate. As for eating habits, it was identified that a lot of students performed their daily meals outside the home, motivated by the lack of time and search for convenience. It was noted that 84% of students of Nutrition, 78.6% of Pharmacy and 82.4% of nursing students had their improved eating habits after entering university. In contrast, most college (69.77% of the Nutrition course, 64.29% of the course of Pharmacy and Nursing 76%) did not consider themselves healthy subjects. Was also investigated the relationship between the frequency of consumption of certain food groups and the nutritional status based on BMI, WHR and Percentage of Body Fat. Was observed that most eutrophic university in relation to BMI, WHR and% BF frequently consumed fruits, juice of natural fruits and vegetables. Regarding the consumption of hamburgers and breaded meat, the highest percentage of normal weight students in relation to BMI, WHR and% BF was the case with those who rarely or almost never ate these types of foods. Given this, it was realized that the academic world influenced the eating habits of the studied university, identifying thus the university as an important area of promotion and building healthy habits.