NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND FOOD CONSUMPTION OF HYPERTENSIVE AND DIABETICS PATIENTS IN A HEALTH CARE UNITY/VáRZEA GRANDE/MT.

This study aimed at studying the nutritional status and food consumption of hypertensive and diabetics patients enrolled at Basic Health Care Baltazar Pereira in the municipality of Várzea Grande – MT. It is an epidemiological cross-sectional study, where 146 individuals participated. The data collection was carried out between October 2010 and January 2011 using a questionnaire form previously elaborated, with questions relevant to the socio-demographic and anthropometric data as well as characteristics related to the food pattern based on the Pocket Food Guide. The predominance of the respondents registered were of old people (62,3%), females (75,6%), low schooling (74% didn`t finish high school), low economic situation (97,9% with income below 5 minimum salaries), and also sedentarism (74%) overweight or obesity (73,3%). Regarding food, 27,4% have at least five daily meals, 95,7% do not add salt to the food after it is ready and 39,7% read the nutritional information written on the labels of the food packages. Based on this, there is a need for actions that will promote healthy nourishment directed to this public and the practice of physical exercises as ways of controlling the body weight and prevention against health hazards.