OBJECTIVE: To identify eating patterns and their distribution in a representative sample of older adults from the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used food frequency and sociodemographic questionnaires to collect the respective data from 355 older users, selected by stratified sampling, of Botucatu's primary health care units from March to June 2011. Principal component analysis extracted six eating patterns. Individual food intake scores were divided into tertiles, classifying individual adherence to each eating pattern as low, moderate, or high, to measure the relationship between adherence tertiles and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Six eating patterns were identified and named as follows: healthy foods; snacks and weekend meals; fruits; light and whole foods; soft diet; and traditional diet. Individuals with elementary school adhered highly to the patterns 'healthy foods' and 'fruits'. On the other hand, men and individuals with the highest education levels adhered highly to the pattern 'snacks and weekend meal'. Females adhered more often to the patterns 'light and whole foods' and 'soft diet'. The pattern 'soft diet' was also preferred by the oldest subgroup. CONCLUSION: The study population presented a diversity of eating patterns influenced by sociodemographic characteristics.

ResumoObjetivou-se analisar o perfil dos usuários de um serviço de nutrição e a percepção dos mesmos sobre a qualidade do atendimento, em uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa, utilizando entrevistas semiestruturadas, conduzidas logo após o atendimento nutricional a 32 idosos de um programa para a terceira idade no município de Viçosa -MG. Predominou o sexo feminino, com idades entre 60 e 78 anos; a hipertensão arterial foi a doença de maior ocorrência; a maioria está satisfeita com o atendimento; 44,8% têm dificuldades para mudar a alimentação e 100% foram otimistas quanto ao resultado do acompanhamento nutricional; a maioria é portadora de doenças crônicas não-transmissíveis, possui autonomia, compreende o serviço como instrumento de auxílio na qualidade de vida e associa a satisfação com o atendimento a aspectos de cuidado e atenção. Estimular pesquisas com programas de nutrição na terceira idade se torna cada vez mais necessário, para que se busque qualidade nutricional e melhores estratégias de atendimento aos idosos. AbstractThis study analyzes the profile of users of nutrition services and their perception about the quality of care, in qualitative and quantitative research, using semi-structured interviews, conducted shortly after the nutritional care to 32 elderly of a program for the aged in Viçosa city, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The majority were female, aged between 60 and 78 years old; hypertension was the most frequent disease; most were satisfied with the service; 44.8% reported some difficulties in changing their diet and 100% were optimistic about the outcome of counseling; most have chronic non-communicable diseases, are autonomous, understand the service as an instrument of quality of life and derives satisfaction from the care and attention. Encouraging researches on nutrition programs for the elderly becomes increasingly necessary, in order to seek nutritional quality and better strategies of care for the elderly.

The increase in the variety of food choices influences the eating patterns of older adults, which is in turn increases the occurrence of obesity. This study aimed at identifying eating patterns and their association with obesity in a representative sample of older adults living in an urban area and registered in the basic health unit in the city of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study and data collection took place from March to June of 2011 through the application of a validated food frequency questionnaire for older adults, a sociodemographic survey and an anthropometric evaluation. Eating patterns were identified through principal component analysis. Scores of individual consumption were divided in tertiles, characterizing as low, moderate or high adherence of the individuals to each pattern. Logistic regression models were fitted for the outcomes "general obesity" and "abdominal obesity" and the tertiles of consumption adjusting by sociodemographic variables. Six eating patterns were identified: Healthy foods, Snacks and weekend meals, Fruits, Light and whole foods, Mild diet and Traditional diet. It was found that the adherence to healthy foods is protective against obesity as well as adherence of snacks and weekend meals are risk of obesity. Eating patterns and their recognized influence on obesity comprise an issue that deserves continuous attention in order to evaluate collectively the eating profile, and develop specific nutritional guidelines for older adults.

ObjetivoAnalisar a prevalência de obesidade geral e central e fatores associados em idosos cadastrados na rede básica de saúde do município de Botucatu, São Paulo.MétodosEstudo transversal que avaliou 304 idosos sorteados por amostragem estratificada entre as unidades básicas de saúde do município. Realizaram-se avaliação antropométricae inquérito socioeconômico. Foram classificados como obesos os indivíduos com índice de massa corporal maior ou igual a 30kg/m2 e com circunferência da cintura maior ou igual a 88cm para mulheres e 102cm para homens. Foram feitos testes qui-quadrado e t Student e regressão logística múltipla. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Os dados foram apresentados na forma descritiva e em tabelas, estratificados por sexo e grupo etário e com os resultados do modelo ajustado para a regressão logística. Resultados A prevalência de obesidade geral foi de 14,9% para os homens e de 31,7% para as mulheres; e a de obesidade central foi de 42,5% para os homens e de 73,5% para as mulheres. Após a regressão logística, as variáveis que se associaram positivamentee de forma significativa com a obesidade geral foram: sobrepeso dos pais e o consumo de bebida alcoólica. Observou-se relação inversa e significativa entre“viver sem companheiro” e a obesidade geral. Em relação à obesidade central, nenhuma das variáveis de interesse associou-se significativamente.ConclusãoO grupo de idosos analisado apresentou altas prevalências de obesidade, principalmente em mulheres, o que torna necessário o acompanhamento do estado nutricional e o conhecimento dos fatores associados à obesidade.Termos de indexação: Estado nutricional. Fatores de risco. Idoso. Obesidade. Obesidade abdominal. Serviços de saúde para idosos.