A dimensão psicossocial na promoção de práticas alimentares saudáveis

Este artigo analisa criticamente como é abordada a dimensão psicossocial na promoção de práticas alimentares saudáveis. Realizou-se busca no Lilacs e no modo multipurpose do Medline, de 2000 a 2011, utilizando os termos intervenção, promoção da saúde, psicossocial e todos aqueles correlatos à nutrição. Observou-se que nesta última década as abordagens sociocognitivas e modelos de crença racional ainda predominam nesse campo, prevalecendo trabalhos de intervenção focados no indivíduo e pouco críticos ao contexto social mais amplo que produz práticas alimentares. Conclui-se que para a promoção de práticas alimentares saudáveis no contexto de assistência integral, o debate sobre o que chamamos de psicossocial deve ser ampliado para incorporar as contribuições recentes das abordagens em saúde com base nos direitos humanos, atentas à multidimensionalidade do processo saúde-doença-cuidado.

Consumer attitudes, knowledge, and behavior related to salt consumption in sentinel countries of the Americas

Objective. To describe individual attitudes, knowledge, and behavior regarding salt intake, its dietary sources, and current food-labeling practices related to salt and sodium in five sentinel countries of the Americas. Methods. A convenience sample of 1 992 adults (>= 18 years old) from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, and Ecuador (approximately 400 from each country) was obtained between September 2010 and February 2011. Data collection was conducted in shopping malls or major commercial areas using a questionnaire containing 33 questions. Descriptive estimates are presented for the total sample and stratified by country and sociodemographic characteristics of the studied population. Results. Almost 90% of participants associated excess intake of salt with the occurrence of adverse health conditions, more than 60% indicated they were trying to reduce their current intake of salt, and more than 30% believed reducing dietary salt to be of high importance. Only 26% of participants claimed to know the existence of a recommended maximum value of salt or sodium intake and 47% of them stated they knew the content of salt in food items. More than 80% of participants said that they would like food labeling to indicate high, medium, and low levels of salt or sodium and would like to see a clear warning label on packages of foods high in salt. Conclusions. Additional effort is required to increase consumers' knowledge about the existence of a maximum limit for intake and to improve their capacity to accurately monitor and reduce their personal salt consumption.