NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND FOOD CONSUMPTION OF ADULTS AND ELDERLY MEMBERS OF THE LANDLESS RURAL WORKERS MOVEMENT (MST) IN A MUNICIPALITY IN WESTERN PARANÁ STATE
Keywords:
Popular Movements, Rural Workers, Health, Obesity, NutritionAbstract
Introduction: The Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) is one of the largest social movements in Latin America, focused on the struggle for agrarian reform. The Brazilian rural population, especially in vulnerable contexts, faces the growing challenge of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, which coexist with nutritional deficiencies.
Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status and characterize the dietary profile of adults and elderly people residing in MST encampments in western Paraná.
Methods: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under CAAE No. 63033021.9.0000.0107. This is a cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic sample of 150 individuals (adults and elderly), of both sexes, conducted between December 2022 and December 2023, in an MST encampment located in a municipality in western Paraná state. Socioeconomic data were collected through a questionnaire. Nutritional status was obtained through anthropometric assessment of weight (kg) and height (m) to obtain the Body Mass Index (BMI – weight [kg]/height [m]²); and waist circumference (WC-cm) and hip circumference (HC-cm) were measured to identify the risk of cardiovascular disease. Laboratory data (fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) were also collected. Dietary profile was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire composed of 7 food groups, adapted from the Nutrition and Food Consumption Survey of the municipality of Campinas. For the statistical analysis of the quantitative variable "age" among individuals separated according to BMI classification as "Without Excess Weight" versus "With Excess Weight," the Mann-Whitney U test was used. To assess categorical variables between the "Without Excess Weight" versus "With Excess Weight" groups, the chi-square test of independence was performed. Spearman's correlation was applied between anthropometric, biochemical, blood pressure, heart rate, and dietary data variables. All statistical tests were two-tailed and performed using XLSTAT® software version 2014.5.03, considering a significance level of 5%.
Results: The research revealed a high frequency of excess weight (65%) in the studied population, with obesity being the most prevalent condition (38.67%). Individuals with excess weight presented greater visceral adiposity and elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, which increases cardiovascular risk. Correlation analysis showed that increased visceral fat was associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods (cookies and soft drinks) and higher levels of blood pressure and glucose.
Conclusion: The data demonstrate that the studied population presented a high frequency of overweight and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as dyslipidemia. This health condition is multifactorial and not only a result of dietary habits, but also of exposure to vulnerable socio-environmental conditions. The struggle for land ownership and the transition to settlements are seen as fundamental processes for improving food security and living conditions, being crucial for the health and quality of life of this population.
