This cross-sectional study aimed primarily to determine the association between the nutritional status and the presence of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) among community restaurants’ food handlers, since their access to food can influence their body mass index (BMI). The study discusses the socio-demographic status of participants, dietary intake, the prevalence of overweightness/obesity, and self-reported diagnosed NCDs. In 36 Community Restaurants (CRs) from all of the Brazilian regions, we collected data from 559 food handlers. We used a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data and the reported diagnosed chronic diseases. For the anthropometric evaluation with Body Mass Index calculation, we measured the weight and the height of the individuals. They were all weighed before having lunch at the CR, without shoes and coats. Associations between variables were analyzed by the chi-square test and Poisson regression at a significance level of 5%, considering health as the outcome variable. Most of the food handlers were female (63.1%), married or with a partner (51.7%), and overweight (59.9%). Among the food handlers that presented diagnosed NCDs (n = 96, 17.2% of food handlers), 45.8% (n = 44) presented hypertension and 12.5% (n = 12) type 2 diabetes mellitus. There was a significant association between BMI and NCD status in the studied population. The total daily sodium intake of food handlers was higher than the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), especially from the CR lunch, which may raise the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension (the most prevalent non-communicable disease found in our study). Despite that, in general, the CRs provide access to cheap and adequate meals to their workers, considering energy intake and the proportion of macronutrients. In this population, overweightness and obesity were prevalent; there was an association of obesity with chronic disease in the study population. Therefore, it is necessary for better menu planning for CRs to guarantee sodium reduction throughout time.

This study aims to evaluate food insecurity (FI) among Brazilian Community restaurant food handlers and its associated factors. This cross-sectional study was performed with a representative sample of 471 food handlers working in community restaurants (CR) from all Brazilian regions. Participants are mostly female (62.2%), ≤40 years old (67.7%), with a partner (52.0%), and with up to eight years of education (54.1%). Predictors of participants’ socioeconomic status and CR geographic location are associated with the household food insecurity categories (p < 0.05). The predictors of socioeconomic conditions are associated with mild and moderate/severe FI category. Workers with less education are twice as likely to belong to the category with the highest FI severity. Lower per capita household income increased the chances of belonging to the mild insecurity category by 86%. It more than doubled the chance to be in the category of moderate/severe insecurity. Predictors of health status, lifestyle, and work are not associated with any multinomial outcome categories. However, working in the South, Southeast, or Midwest regions of Brazilian decreased the chances of belonging to one of the FI categories, with significance only for the mild category. Variables that show an association for this population are per capita household income for the different levels of FI and the CR region for mild FI. A high prevalence of FI in this population points to the need for more studies with low-income workers to prevent FI and its health consequences.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the years of work of food handlers in the foodservice and excess weight among Brazilian low-income food handlers. A total of 559 food handlers from all Brazilian regions were characterized using a questionnaire. Weight and height were measured to estimate the Body Mass Index and classify the individuals. The association between food handlers' years of work in the foodservice, anthropometric status, and other variables (gender, age group, educational level, participation in a government program and per capita income at home and energetic consumption) were performed using Pearson's chi-square test (p &lt; 0.05). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed (p &lt; 0.05) as well as sensitivity tests using the outcome continuously and transformed, excluding underweight individuals, in a multivariate linear regression model. Most of the sample was female (63.1%), aged between 21 and 40 years old (63.5%), and 53.3% had studied up to complete elementary school. Almost 41% of the food handlers had less than half the minimum wage per capita income. Of the evaluated individuals, 59.9% presented excess weight. There was an association with family per capita income (Odds Ratio - OR: 1.73; Confidence interval - CI95%: 1.09–2.75); handlers whose per capita income was ≤0.5 minimum wage had a 73% higher chance of obesity than those with higher income. Working in foodservive ≥3 years increased the chance of being overweight by 96% compared to those who work for &lt;3 years (OR: 1.96; CI95%: 1.11–3.49). No significant association was found between the years of work of food handlers in the foodservice and obesity. Since work-related factors may contribute to the high prevalence of excess weight, including working in a food handling environment, the government and employers should consider workplace interventions. These would guide the food handlers in avoiding high rates of excess weight and their consequences on public health. Excess weight is an important driver of costs in the workplace associated with absenteeism, job change, and diseases. More studies are necessary to clarify the relationship between the factors related to work and the anthropometric status of food handlers since excess weight is multifactorial.

Com o objetivo de contribuir com uma abordagem metodológica, este estudo comparou as necessidades energéticas, obtidas por meio de equações preditivas, com os dados de consumo alimentar de uma população de adolescentes escolares, de municípios baianos, e ainda, conhecer o espaço alimentar e as refeições realizadas por essa população. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, aninhado a um ensaio comunitário randomizado controlado, realizado com estudantes do ensino médio de escolas públicas de dez municípios baianos. O consumo alimentar foi obtido por meio de questionário de frequência alimentar quantitativo e de três registros alimentares. Utilizaram-se as Dietary Reference Intakes e Schofield para o cálculo das necessidades nutricionais. Dados antropométricos (peso, altura, circunferência da cintura), sociodemográficos e de atividade física foram analisados de forma descritiva e associações testadas usando o teste do qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fischer, com nível de significância de 0,95. A amostra foi composta por 85 adolescentes, eutróficos (83,1%), ativos (69,5%), e a maioria das refeições principais (café da manhã, almoço e jantar) sendo realizadas no domicílio (>80%). As diferenças entre as necessidades nutricionais recomendadas e o consumo alimentar, foram estatisticamente significativas (p<0,05) e sinalizam a necessidade da acurácia na investigação de desfechos relacionados à alimentação e gasto energético em adolescentes. A avaliação das necessidades nutricionais para grupos populacionais é de importância no âmbito da Saúde Pública, bem como, conhecer a situação alimentar e nutricional preponderante em todas as faixas etárias, especialmente nos estágios de vida críticos para a formação de novos hábitos, como a adolescência.

As doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT), em particular as cardiovasculares (DCV) e o diabetes melito (DM), têm um importante papel no atual perfil de saúde da população mundial, com projeções de crescimento. O objetivo deste artigo é identificar fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) associados à alimentação em trabalhadores atendidos em um ambulatório de nutrição. Trata-se de estudo de corte transversal. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevista, avaliação antropométrica e bioquímica. A amostra foi selecionada entre trabalhadores de ambos os sexos, que frequentavam o ambulatório de nutrição do Centro Estadual de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador em Salvador, Bahia, em 2010. Os resultados indicam que o IMC ≥ 25,0 kg/m2 foi o fator de risco de maior frequência (91,8%), seguido da hipercolesterolemia (61,8%) e da hipertrigliceridemia (50,0%). Simultaneidade de dois ou mais fatores de risco foi encontrada em 70,6% dos trabalhadores. Baixo consumo diário de frutas (14,3%), hortaliças (44,4%) e tubérculos (8,0%) e elevado consumo de alimentos ricos em gordura saturada (embutidos – 48,9%) e açúcar simples (76,0%). O tabagismo era hábito de 3,6% dos trabalhadores. A análise das frequências das dislipidemias segundo a idade mostrou níveis elevados de colesterol total (p=0,02) e triglicérides (p=0,03) em trabalhadores com idade ≥41anos. Concluiu-se que as elevadas frequências de fatores de risco modificáveis são preocupantes e reforçam a necessidade de implementação de ações que visem a promoção da saúde e a prevenção de DCNT.