Nutritional status and food patterns of population groups in Lisbon

RESUMO - Cruz, J. A. Amorim; Martins, Ilda; Dantas, Ascensão; Silveira, Dirce; Guiomar, Sofia - Alimentação e estado nutricional de grupos da população do concelho de Lisboa = Nutritional status and food patterns of population groups in Lisbon. Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública. ISSN 0870-9025. Vol. 21, Nº 2 (Julho/Dezembro 2003), p. 65-72ABSTRACT - Objective: to describe the nutritional status and the food pattern of population groups from Lisbon. Design, settings and subjects: cross-sectional analysis of the nutritional status and food patterns of 38 years old men and 50-65 years old men and women living at the parish of Lumiar in Lisbon; cross-sectional study of food habits and nutritional status of 12-19 years old adolescents who are students of secondary schools in Lisbon; cross-sectional analysis of 24 hours urinary excretion of sodium of 7-8 years old boys of primary schools from Lumiar. Methods: nutrition status was assessed according to standardized methodologies as proposed by WHO. Dietary intake was evaluated by 24-hours recall in the first study and by the dietary history method in the second study. Results: in children, the urinary excretion of sodium was one of the highest of Europe. In adolescents, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 19% in males and 16% in females. 16% of the adolescents did not take breakfast but more than 30% of them ate cakes at mid-morning. The proportion of adolescents having a daily intake of certain foods is 44% for candies, 43% for cakes, 29% for soft drinks and 16% for chocolates and ice-creams. On the other hand, the frequency of intake of fruits and vegetables is low, mainly in low socioeconomic class. In adults, 57% of 38 years old men, 80% of 50-65 years old men and 74% of women of the same age group are overweight or obese. Hypertension was detected in more than 20% of young men and its prevalence increased with the age. A serum cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dL was observed in almost half of the adults and higher than 240 mg/ dL in 28% of 38 years old men and 24% of 50-65 years old men and 44% of women of the same age group. 20% of the young adults had serum HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dL, more than a third of them were smokers and their alcohol intake represented 13% of their total energy intake. Conclusions: unhealthy life styles were observed, namely inadequate food patterns. A high prevalence of obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia was detected. Therefore one may consider that a relatively high proportion of the Lisbon population is at high risk of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, as well as of premature death.