Assessment of the nutritional condition of Maringá´s fire brigade, and the implantation of a nutrition education program

Abstract

This work has been carried out with the purpose of diagnosing the nutritional condition, and assessing Maringá´s Fire Brigade living and eating habits. Thus, a questionnaire was given containing objective and subjective questions about the participants eating habits, social-economical characteristics and health condition. In addition, a 24-hour recording for the assessment of food consumption was undertaken, as well as laboratorial exams to assess the main health biochemical indicators (fasting glycemy, and a complete lipid and blood counts). It was assessed 56 firemen with age ranging from 20 to 55 years, the majority (35,85%) between 36 to 40 years, 86,79% were married, 84,91% had children, and 86,79% lived with their wives and children. According to the BMI (Body Mass Index) 65,38% were considered eutrophic, 30, 76% were overweight and 3,34% were grade 1 obese. The waist measurements results showed that 88,63% presented no risk for cardiovascular or chronic diseases; 6,81% presented high risk and 4,54% very high risk. In relation to their education, 67,92% had completed secondary school. A total of 77,36% of the participants claimed that they did not have chronic diseases. The same number (77,36%) rfeported chronic diseases in the family, the mother being the most mentioned relative, and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) the most common diasease. Food allergy was denied by 84,91% of the participants, and those who answered affirmatively mentioned allergy to shrimps, milk, animal fat and condimented foods In regard to physical activity, 94,72%), breakfast, lunch and eating habits revealed the following behavior: in general this population reported three daily meals (54,72%), breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by their wives (55,26%). However, the vast majority (88,68%) had the habit of eating out one to three times a week (69,81%). When asked aboud their knowledge on nutrition, 81,13% answered that they did not know what a Food Pyramid is, and 50,94% did not know which are the main food component normal levels of fasting glucose and they also showed that their blood count was normal, but 5,6% of the individuals preented alterations in their lipid profile. the 24-hour recording results showed that 8,7% consumed a daily caloric value above their necessities (above the VTE calculated): the amounts of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in the diet were adequate for 93,5%, 61%, and 21,74% of the fact that Maringá´s fireghters were in their majority eutrophic and practiced physical activities, a significant part were overweight as a result of the macronutrients unbalance found in the assessment of their eating habits. these results highlight the importance of combining physical activity with a balanced diet in a working population that is constantly demanded in activities that requires quickness and readiness to act.