Assessment of the nutritional profile through the 24-hour record in truckers in the central-southern Brazilian region: a prospective observational cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Truck drivers are of great importance to the Brazilian economy. The exorbitant workload and long periods away from home are causes of the adoption of unhealthy eating habits, such as the intake of foods that are sources of lipids with high caloric value. Extensive travel contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. This causes health damage and comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, stress, and depression. Based on these considerations, the present study evaluates the nutritional profile of truck drivers. Objective: It was to evaluate the food quality of truck drivers in the Center-South Geoeconomic Region of the country, comparing the portions of macronutrients consumed with those recommended by the Brazilian Food Pyramid. Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study. The consumption of macronutrients by 100 truck drivers from the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás was qualitatively evaluated. The research used 24-hour food recalls, completed online, via Google Forms, between June and September 2020. Statistical analysis was obtained by calculating the Wilcoxon's non-parametric test to compare the medians of ingested portions and the ideas. Results: The Wilcoxon test identified significant differences between the number of servings consumed by truck drivers and the recommended ideal with regard to fruits, vegetables/vegetables, oils/fats, meats/eggs, sweets/sugars, milk, cheese and derivatives (p<0.0001). Only the portions of carbohydrates were in accordance with the nutritional recommendations, that is, six portions a day (ns). In the class of sugars and sweets, consumption four times higher than recommended was observed. In the meat and eggs category, consumption was double the ideal. In oils and fats, triple the recommended value. The consumption of milk and dairy products is three times less than ideal, such as vegetables. Finally, the average value of fruit portions eaten by truck drivers was zero, while the recommended value is three. Conclusion: Among the food groups analyzed, carbohydrates were the only group in which consumption was adequate. There was a significant excess of sweets and fats intake by truck drivers, when compared to the ideal amount indicated by the food pyramid. The intake of milk and dairy products, vegetables and legumes was deficient, three times lower than recommended. Fruits counted as a median intake value of zero servings.