DESENVOLVIMENTO DE UM INSTRUMENTO PARA AVALIAÇÃO DOS HÁBITOS ALIMENTARES DE ADOLESCENTES: UMA ABORDAGEM EDUCACIONAL E NUTRICIONAL

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the evaluation of teenager´s eating habits, a highly relevant topic in the field of public health, taking into consideration that adolescence is a crucial period for the formation of eating patterns that tend to last throughout life. Adequate eating habits are essential for health promotion and disease prevention, especially in a context of increasing obesity and other comorbidities in youth population. The overall objective of the research was to investigate teenager´s eating habits and to develop an easy-to-apply instrument that can be used in educational contexts, making the nutritional monitoring of students easier. The dissertation is structured in two chapters, presented in scientific articles format, which address different dimensions of the topic. The first article consists of a systematic literature review aiming to identify and describe educational products and instruments used in assessing teenager´s eating habits. The search was conducted in academic databases such as eduCAPES and Google Scholar resulting in the selection of 110 relevant papers, including 82 articles, 21 dissertations and 7 theses. The analyses highlighted the recurrent use of instruments such as the 24-hour recall and the Food Frequency Questionnaire, outlining the state of the art on the subject. The second article presents a descriptive and longitudinal field study with 35 teenagers, aged between 16 and 18 years, from the Federal Education Network. The research analyzed the participants eating habits on weekdays and weekends, using an adapted questionnaire for this research. The data were statistically analyzed, allowing a detailed understanding of the consumption patterns. The main findings revealed an excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods and a low intake of natural foods among the teenagers, reinforcing the need for educational interventions. The research resulted in the development of a Food Guide for Teenagers, with practical and accessible guidelines on healthy eating, which can support educational actions in nutrition and health. It is concluded that the integration of both articles provides a comprehensive view of the gaps in the literature and current practices, highlighting the importance of effective educational strategies in promoting healthy eating habits among young people. The dissertation highlights that nutritional education should be a priority in schools, contributing to the formation of lasting and healthy eating behaviors.