Resumen de Estado nutricional e nível de atividade física de vegetarianos e onívoros do Distrito Federal

Francisca Maria Carvalho Nascimento, Nayara Kim Faria Dias, Guilherme Falcão Mendes

• English

  Epidemiological studies have documented significant benefits of the vegetarian diet for human health as long as well balanced. Consistently lower mean BMI is observed in vegetarians than in omnivores. The objective of the present study is to evaluate and compare the nutritional status and level of physical activity of vegetarians, vegans and omnivores of the Federal District. This was a cross-sectional observational study, 36 vegetarians and 47 omnivores of both sexes and 18 to 45 year olds were included. The level of physical activity was assessed through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and nutritional status evaluation by means of the Body Mass Index (BMI), to collect data on diet, an adaptation of the questionnaire on healthy eating proposed by the Ministry of Health "How is your diet?" was used. Regarding age, the omnivores were the youngest individuals in the sample, and the older vegans, which may suggest that the change in feeding happens as they age. As it was a questionnaire conducted online, and it was not performed with the presence of the evaluator, it presented limitations. It was observed that vegetarians and vegans have healthier eating habits than omnivores. No significant differences were found in the nutritional status and level of physical activity between vegetarians and omnivores.

• português

  Estudos epidemiológicos têm documentado importantes e significativos benefícios da dieta vegetariana para a saúde humana, desde que bem equilibrada. É consistentemente observado um IMC médio mais baixo nos vegetarianos do que nos onívoros. O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar e comparar o estado nutricional e nível de atividade física de vegetarianos, veganos e onívoros do Distrito Federal. Trata-se de um estudo observacional transversal, foram incluídos 36 vegetarianos e 47 onívoros de ambos os sexos e com faixa etária de 18 a 45 anos, o nível de atividade física foi avaliado por meio do Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ) e a avaliação do estado nutricional por meio do Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), para a coleta de dados sobre a alimentação, foi utilizada uma adaptação do questionário sobre alimentação saudável proposto pelo Ministério da Saúde “Como está sua alimentação?”. Em relação à idade, os onívoros foram os indivíduos mais jovens da amostra, e os veganos os mais velhos, o que pode sugerir que a mudança na alimentação acontece conforme idade. Por se tratar de uma pesquisa realizada por meio de questionário online, não sendo realizada com a presença do avaliador, apresentou limitações. Foi possível observar que vegetarianos e veganos possuem hábitos alimentares mais saudáveis em relação aos onívoros. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no estado nutricional e no nível de atividade física entre vegetarianos e onívoros.  ABSTRACT Nutritional status and level of physical activity of vegetarians and omnivorous of the federal districtEpidemiological studies have documented significant benefits of the vegetarian diet for human health as long as well balanced. Consistently lower mean BMI is observed in vegetarians than in omnivores. The objective of the present study is to evaluate and compare the nutritional status and level of physical activity of vegetarians, vegans and omnivores of the Federal District. This was a cross-sectional observational study, 36 vegetarians and 47 omnivores of both sexes and 18 to 45 year olds were included. The level of physical activity was assessed through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and nutritional status evaluation by means of the Body Mass Index (BMI), to collect data on diet, an adaptation of the questionnaire on healthy eating proposed by the Ministry of Health "How is your diet?" was used. Regarding age, the omnivores were the youngest individuals in the sample, and the older vegans, which may suggest that the change in feeding happens as they age. As it was a questionnaire conducted online, and it was not performed with the presence of the evaluator, it presented limitations. It was observed that vegetarians and vegans have healthier eating habits than omnivores. No significant differences were found in the nutritional status and level of physical activity between vegetarians and omnivores.