PROGRAMA DE EDUCAÇÃO NUTRICIONAL EM ADOLESCENTES ESTUDANTES DA REDE PÚBLICA - CARACTERIZAÇÃO E RESULTADOS

Trata-se de um estudo de intervencao desenvolvido com adolescentes (10 a 12 anos), participantes de oficinas de Nutricao de uma escola da rede publica de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, que objetivou avaliar o impacto das atividades de educacao alimentar e nutricional sobre o conhecimento dos alunos. Inicialmente, realizou-se avaliacao do perfil nutricional dos alunos atraves da antropometria (peso e estatura) e aplicacao de um questionario sobre preferencias alimentares. As atividades de educacao alimentar e nutricional, por sua vez, foram realizadas em sete encontros, baseadas nos grupos da pirâmide alimentar e na merenda escolar. Aplicou-se um questionario antes e apos as atividades para avaliacao dos conhecimentos adquiridos com a intervencao. A amostra consistiu de 32 alunos, porem somente 43,8% (n=14) tiveram seu perfil nutricional avaliado. Destes, 64% eram meninas, com media de idade de 10,5±0,8 anos. Observou-se que 7% apresentavam baixa estatura para idade e 21% excesso de peso. Quanto as preferencias alimentares, verificou-se elevado percentual de inadequacao, sobretudo em relacao aos alimentos dos grupos do leite/derivados e das carnes. Identificou-se melhoria no conhecimento dos alunos sobre os temas trabalhados, com 49,9±17,6% e 62,8±17,1% de acertos antes e ao final do programa, respectivamente (p=0,004). Assim, concluiu-se que os adolescentes avaliados estavam em situacao de risco nutricional e que o programa de intervencao desenvolvido foi capaz de melhorar os conhecimentos em relacao a pratica de uma alimentacao saudavel. Destaca-se, no entanto, a necessidade de continuidade e ampliacao da intervencao proposta, abrangendo maior numero de alunos e favorecendo a promocao de modos de vida saudaveis entre adolescentes. This was an intervention study developed among adolescents (10-12 years old) participating in nutrition workshops at a public school in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Its aim was to evaluate the impact of an intervention program based on nutritional education activities on the students? knowledge. Initially, the nutritional profile of the students was evaluated using anthropometry (weight and height) and applying a questionnaire on food preferences. The food and nutrition education activities took place over seven meetings and were based on the food pyramid groups and the school-provided meal. A questionnaire was applied before and after the activities to evaluate the knowledge acquired through the intervention. The sample consisted of 32 students, but only 43.8% (n=14) had their nutritional profile evaluated. Among these, 64% were girls, with a mean age of 10.5±0.8 years. It was seen that 7% presented height deficit and 21% overweight. Regarding their food preferences, there was a high percentage of inadequate diet, particularly in relation to foods in the milk/dairy and meat groups. Improvements in the students? knowledge of the topics broached were identified: the percentages of correct responses before and after the program were 49.9±17.6% and 62.8±17.1%, respectively (p=0.004). Thus, it was concluded that the adolescents evaluated were in a situation of nutritional risk and that the intervention program developed was capable of improving their knowledge regarding healthy eating practices. However, the need to continue and expand the proposed intervention, to cover greater numbers of students and further the promotion of healthy ways of life among adolescents is emphasized.