Food and nutrition education for control of comorbidities among people with infectious diseases

• Published in: Revista brasileira em promoção da saúde = Brazilian journal in health promotion 2017-01, Vol.30 (1)
• Main Authors: Patrícia Dias de Brito, Gonçalves, Juliana Lauar, da Silva, Paula Simplício, Claudia Santos de Aguiar Cardoso, Marlete Pereira da Silva, Adriana da Costa Bacelo, Raquel Espírito Santo, Cristiane Fonseca de Almeida
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autonomy; Comorbidity; Consolidation; Eating; Education; Exchanging; Food; Group dynamics; Habits; Infectious diseases; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Nutrition; Nutrition education; Parasitic diseases; Workshops
• ISSN: 1806-1222; 1806-1230
• DOI: 10.5020/18061230.2017.p141

Objective: To report the experience of implementing Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) Practices in group, for improvement of nutrition counseling acceptance among patients with infectious diseases. Data synthesis: This is an experience report of food and nutrition education activity carried out from April to November 2015 at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectology (INI/Fiocruz). Twelve individuals carrying infectious and parasitic diseases, of both genders, diagnosed with overweight and metabolic syndrome, took part in seven monthly thematic workshops. Themes of relevance to the treatment of metabolic syndrome and overweight were approached by means of group chats and dynamics, and explanatory brochure distribution. During the workshops, eating behaviors were clearly identified, which were not in conformity with the nutrition counseling provided in previous individual appointments and hampered the control of the clinical conditions experienced in metabolic syndrome and overweight. In the workshops, the participants consolidated the knowledge of healthy eating habits and, by exchanging experiences, they felt more confident and motivated to overcome the difficulties during nutrition treatment. Conclusion: It was observed that the participants consolidated their knowledge and autonomy for healthy food choices and, with the exchange of experience, they felt more confident and motivated to overcome the difficulties during the nutrition treatment. Therefore, the implementation of FNE in group was effective in improving nutrition counselling acceptance, which brings forward new reports of healthy eating practices.